AT  MALMAttgON, 


RECOLLECTIONS 

OK 

THE     PRIVATE     LIFE 


OF 


NAPOLEON 


BY 

CONSTANT 

PREMIER  VALET  DE  CHAMBRB 


TRANSLATED  BY  WALTER  CLARK 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  I. 


NEW  YORK 
THE    MERRIAM    COMPANY 

67  FIFTH  AVENUE 


COPYRIGHT,  1895, 
BY  TUB  MEBKIAM  COMPANY. 


TrroGBAniY  TSY  C.  J.  PKTEBS  &  SON, 
BOSTON,  U.S.A. 


TX. 

£05 


v.\ 


PREFACE. 


THOUGH  this  work  was  first  published  in  1830,  it  has 
never  before  been  translated  into  English.  Indeed,  the 
volumes  are  almost  out  of  print.  When  hi  Paris  a  few 
years  ago  the  writer  secured,  with  much  difficulty,  a  copy, 
from  which  this  translation  has  been  made.  Notes  have 
been  added  by  the  translator,  and  illustrations  by  the  pub- 
lishers, which,  it  is  believed,  will  enhance  the  interest  of 
the  original  work  by  Constant. 

"To  paint  Csesar  in  undress  is  not  to  paint  Caesar," 
some  one  has  said.  Yet  men  will  always  like  to  see  the 
great  en  deshabille.  In  these  volumes  the  hero  is  painted 
in  undress.  His  foibles,  his  peculiarities,  his  vices,  are  here 
depicted  without  reserve.  But  so  also  are  his  kindness  of 
heart,  his  vast  intellect,  his  knowledge  of  men,  his  extraor- 
dinary energy,  his  public  spirit.  The  shutters  are  taken 
down,  and  the  workings  of  the  mighty  machinery  are  laid 
bare. 

The  late  Prince  Napoleon  (who  was  more  truly  "the 
nephew  of  his  uncle  "  than  was  Napoleon  III.),  in  his  Na- 
poleon and  His  Detractors,  bitterly  assails  this  work  of 
Constant,  attacking  both  its  authenticity  and  the  correctness 
of  its  statements.  But  there  appears  no  good  reason  to 
doubt  its  genuineness,  and  the  truthfulness  of  many  of  its 
details  is  amply  supported  by  other  authorities.  Notwith- 
standing its  excesses  and  follies,  the  great  French  Revolu- 

3 


4  PREFACE. 

tion  will  ever  have  an  absorbing  interest  for  mankind,  be- 
cause it  began  as  a  struggle  for  the  advancement  of  the 
cause  of  manhood,  liberty,  and  equal  rights.  It  was  a  ter- 
ribly earnest  movement ;  and,  after  the  lapse  of  a  century, 
interest  continues  unabated  in  the  great  soldier  who  re- 
stored order,  and  organized  and  preserved  the  new  ideas 
by  means  of  his  Civil  Code  and  a  firm  government. 

Countless  memoirs  have  been  published  by  those  who 
lived  in  those  heroic  times.  Yet  everything  which  will  cast 
new  light  upon  the  chief  actors  in  that  great  drama  of 
humanity  is  still  seized  upon  with  avidity,  especially  what- 
ever concerns  the  JUmperor. 

This  is  not  merely  because  he  was  a  great  conqueror; 
for  such  were,  after  their  fashion,  Genghis  Khan  and 
Timour,  and  hundreds  of  others.  But  it  is  because  of  the 
human  interest  which  attaches  to  the  wonderful  career  of 
Napoleon  and  the  events  of  which  he  was  the  central  figure. 

Never  did  poet  or  novelist  imagine  scenes  so  improbable. 
The  son  of  an  obscure  lawyer  in  an  unimportant  island 
becomes  Emperor  of  the  French  and  King  of  Italy.  His 
brothers  and  sisters  become  kings  and  queens.  The  sons 
of  innkeepers,  notaries,  lawyers,  and  peasants  become  mar- 
shals of  the  empire.  The  Emperor,  first  making  a  West 
India  Creole  his  wife  and  Empress,  puts  her  away,  and  mar- 
ries a  daughter  of  the  haughtiest  and  oldest  royal  house  in 
Europe,  the  niece  of  a  queen  whom  the  people  of  France  had 
beheaded  a  few  years  before.  Their  son  is  born — a  king — 
King  of  Rome.  Then  suddenly  the  pageantry  dissolves, 
and  Emperor,  kings,  and  queens  become  subjects  again. 
Has  imagination  ever  dreamed  anything  wilder  than  this? 
The  dramatic  interest  of  this  story  will  always  attract,  but 


PREFACE.  5 

there  is  a  deeper  one.  The  secret  spring  of  all  those  rapid 
changes,  and  the  real  cause  of  the  great  interest  humanity 
will  always  feel  in  the  story  of  those  eventful  times,  is  to  be 
found  in  Napoleon's  own  explanation  —  "A  career  open  to 
talents,  without  distinction  of  birth."  Till  that  day  the 
accident  of  birth  was  the  key  to  every  honor  and  every 
position.  No  man  could  hold  even  a  lieutenancy  in  the 
army  who  could  not  show  four  quarterings  on  his  coat>-of- 
arms. 

It  was  as  the  "  armed  apostle  of  democracy  "  that  Napo- 
leon went  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer.  He  declared 
at  St.  Helena  that  he  "had  always  marched  supported  by 
the  opinions  of  six  millions  of  men." 

The  old  woman  who  met  him  incognito  climbing  the 
hill  of  Tarare,  and  replying  to  his  assertion  that  "Napoleon 
was  only  a  tyrant  like  the  rest,"  exclaimed,  "  It  may  be  so, 
but  the  others  are  the  kings  of  the  nobility,  while  he  is  one 
of  us,  and  we  have  chosen  him  ourselves,"  expressed  a  great 
truth.  As  long  as  Napoleon  represented  popular  sover- 
eignty he  was  invincible  ;  but  when,  deeming  himself  strong 
enough  to  stand  alone,  he  endeavored  to  conciliate  the  old 
order  of  things,  and,  divorcing  the  daughter  of  the  people, 
took  for  a  bride  the  daughter  of  kings  and  allied  himself 
with  them  —  at  that  moment,  like  another  Samson,  "his 
strength  departed  from  him."  Disasters  came  as  they  had 
come  to  him  before,  but  this  time  the  heart  of  the  people 
was  no  longer  with  him.  He  fell. 

This  man  has  been  studied  as  a  soldier,  a  statesman,  an 
organizer,  a  politician.  In  all  he  was  undeniably  great. 
But  men  will  always  like  to  know  something  about  him  as 
a  man.  Can  he  stand  that  ordeal?  These  volumes  will 


6  PREFACE. 

answer  that  question.  They  are  written  by  one  who  joined 
the  First  Consul  at  the  Hospice  on  Mt.  St.  Bernard,  on  his 
way  to  Marengo,  in  June,  1800,  and  who  was  with  him 
as  his  chief  personal  attendant,  day  and  night,  never  leav- 
ing him  "any  more  than  his  shadow"  (eight  days  only 
excepted)  until  that  eventful  day,  fourteen  years  later, 
when,  laying  aside  the  sceptre  of  the  greatest  empire  the 
world  had  known  for  seventeen  centuries,  he  walked  down 
the  horseshoe  steps  at  Fontainebleau  in  the  presence  of 
the  soldiers  whom  he  had  led  to  victory  from  Madrid  to 
Moscow,  once  more  a  private  citizen. 

That  men  of  Anglo-Saxon  speech  may  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  see  and  judge  the  Emperor  from  "  close  at  hand," 
and  view  him  as  he  appeared  in  the  eyes  of  his  personal 
attendants,  these  volumes  have  been  translated,  and  are  now 
submitted  to  the  public.  Though  the  remark  of  Frederick 
the  Great  that  "No  man  is  a  hero  to  his  valet"  is  not 
altogether  borne  out  in  this  instance,  still  it  will  be  seen 
that  there  is  here  nothing  of  that  "divinity  which  doth 
hedge  a  king."  In  these  volumes  Napoleon  appears  as  a 
man,  a  very  great  man,  still  a  mere  man,  not  a  demigod. 
Their  perusal  will  doubtless  lead  to  a  truer  conception  of 
his  character,  as  manifested  both  in  his  good  and  in  his  evil 
traits.  The  former  were  natural  to  him;  the  latter  were 
often  produced  by  the  exceptional  circumstances  which  sur- 
rounded him,  and  the  extraordinary  temptations  to  which 
he  was  subjected. 

Certainly  a  truer  and  fuller  light  is  cast  by  these  vol- 
umes, upon  the  colossal  figure  which  will  always  remain  one 
of  the  most  interesting  studies  in  all  human  history. 

THE  TRANSLATOR. 


INTRODUCTION. 

BY  CONSTANT. 


THE  career  of  a  man  compelled  to  make  his  own  way, 
who  is  not  an  artisan  or  in  some  trade,  does  not  usually 
begin  till  he  is  about  twenty  years  of  age.  Till  then  he 
vegetates,  uncertain  of  his  future,  neither  having,  nor  being 
able  to  have,  any  well-defined  purpose.  It  is  only  when  he 
has  arrived  at  the  full  development  of  his  powers,  and  his 
character  and  bent  of  mind  are  shown,  that  he  can  deter- 
mine his  profession  or  calling.  Not  till  then  does  he  know 
himself,  and  see  his  way  open  before  him.  In  fact,  it  is 
only  then  that  he  begins  to  live. 

Reasoning  in  this  manner,  my  life  from  my  twentieth 
year  has  been  thirty  years,  which  can  be  divided  into  equal 
parts,  so  far  as  days  and  months  are  counted,  but  very 
unequal  parts,  considering  the  events  which  transpired  in 
each  of  those  two  periods  of  my  life. 

Attached  to  the  person  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  for  fif- 
teen years,  I  have  seen  all  the  men,  and  witnessed  all  the 
important  events,  which  centered  around  him.  I  have  seen 
far  more  than  that;  for  I  have  had  under  my  eyes  all  the 
circumstances  of  his  life,  the  least  as  well  as  the  greatest, 
the  most  secret  as  well  as  those  which  are  known  to  history, 
- 1  have  had,  I  repeat,  incessantly  under  my  eyes  the  man 
whose  name,  solitary  and  alone,  fills  the  most  glorious  pages 

7 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

of  our  history.  Fifteen  years  I  followed  him  in  his  travels 
and  his  campaigns,  was  at  his  court,  and  saw  him  in  the 
privacy  of  his  family.  Whatever  step  he  wished  to  take, 
whatever  order  he  gave,  it  was  necessarily  very  difficult  for 
the  Emperor  not  to  admit  me,  even  though  involuntarily, 
into  his  confidence ;  so  that  without  desiring  it,  I  have  more 
than  once  found  myself  in  the  possession  of  secrets  I  should 
have  preferred  not  to  know.  What  wonderful  things  hap- 
pened during  those  fifteen  years !  Those  near  the  Emperor 
lived  as  if  in  the  center  of  a  whirlwind ;  and  so  quick  was 
the  succession  of  overwhelming  events,  that  one  felt  dazed, 
as  it  were,  and  if  he  wished  to  pause  and  fix  his  attention 
for  a  moment,  there  instantly  came,  like  another  flood,  a 
succession  of  events  which  carried  him  along  with  them 
without  giving  him  time  to  fix  his  thoughts. 

Succeeding  these  times  of  activity  which  made  one's 
brain  whirl,  there  came  to  me  the  most  absolute  repose  in 
an  isolated  retreat  where  I  passed  another  interval  of  fifteen 
years  after  leaving  the  Emperor.  But  what  a  contrast! 
To  those  who  have  lived,  like  myself,  amid  the  conquests 
and  wonders  of  the  Empire,  what  is  left  to-day?  If  the 
strength  of  our  manhood  was  passed  amid  the  bustle  of 
years  so  short,  yet  so  fully  occupied,  our  careers  were  suf- 
ficiently long  and  fruitful,  and  it  is  time  to  give  ourselves 
up  to  repose.  We  can  withdraw  from  the  world,  and  close 
our  eyes.  Can  it  be  possible  to  see  anything  equal  to  what 
we  have  seen?  Such  scenes  do  not  come  twice  in  the 
lifetime  of  any  man ;  and  having  seen  them,  they  suffice  to 
occupy  his  memory  through  all  his  remaining  years,  and  in 
retirement  he  can  find  nothing  better  to  occupy  his  leisure 
moments  than  the  recollections  of  what  he  has  witnessed. 


INTRO  D  UCTION.  9 

Thus  it  has  been  with  me.  The  reader  will  readily 
believe  that  I  have  had  no  greater  pleasure  than  that  of 
recalling  the  memories  of  the  years  passed  in  the  service 
of  the  Emperor.  As  far  as  possible,  I  have  kept  myself 
informed  as  to  everything  that  has  been  written  of  my 
former  master,  his  family,  and  his  court;  and  while  listen- 
ing to  these  narrations  read  by  my  wife  and  sister  at  our 
fireside,  the  long  evenings  have  passed  like  an  instant! 
When  I  found  in  these  books,  some  of  which  are  truly  only 
miserable  rhapsodies,  statements  which  were  incorrect,  false, 
or  slanderous,  I  took  pleasure  in  correcting  such  statements, 
or  in  showing  their  absurdity.  My  wife,  who  lived,  as  I 
did,  in  the  midst  of  these  events,  also  made  her  correc- 
tions, and,  without  other  object  than  our  own  satisfaction, 
made  notes  of  our  joint  observations. 

All  who  came  to  see  us  in  our  retreat,  and  took  pleas- 
ure in  having  me  narrate  what  I  had  seen,  were  astonished 
and  often  indignant  at  the  falsehoods  with  which  ignorance 
or  malevolence  had  calumniated  the  Emperor  and  the  Em- 
pire, and  expressing  their  gratitude  for  the  correct  informa- 
tion I  was  able  to  give  them,  advised  me  also  to  furnish 
it  to  the  public.  But  I  attached  no  importance  to  the 
suggestion,  and  was  far  from  dreaming  that  some  day  I 
should  be  the  author  of  a  book,  until  M.  Ladvocat  came 
to  our  hermitage,  and  urged  me  earnestly  to  publish  my 
memoirs,  offering  himself  to  become  the  publisher. 

At  the  very  time  my  wife  and  I  received  this  unex- 
pected visit,  we  were  reading  together  the  Memoirs  of 
Bourrienne,  which  the  Ladvocat  publishing-house  had  just 
issued ;  and  we  had  remarked  more  than  once  how  exempt 
these  Memoirs  were  from  both  that  spirit  of  disparagement 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

and  of  adulation  which  we  had  noticed  with  disgust  in 
other  books  on  the  same  subject.  M.  Ladvocat  advised  me 
to  complete  the  sketch  of  the  Emperor,  which,  owing  to 
his  elevated  position  and  habitual  occupations,  Bourrienne 
had  been  able  to  make  only  from  a  political  point  of  view ; 
and  in  accordance  with  his  advice,  I  shall  relate  in  simple 
words,  and  in  a  manner  suited  to  my  relations  with  the 
Emperor,  those  things  which  Bourrienne  has  necessarily 
omitted,  and  which  no  one  could  know  so  well  as  I.  . 

I  candidly  admit  that  my  objections  to  M.  Ladvocat's 
advice  were  entirely  overcome  when  he  called  my  attention 
to  this  passage  in  the  introduction  to  Bourrienne's  mem- 
oirs :  "  If  every  one  who  had  any  relations  with  Napoleon, 
whatever  the  time  and  place,  will  accurately  and  with- 
out prejudice  record  what  he  saw  and  heard,  the  future 
historian  of  his  life  will  be  rich  in  materials.  I  hope  that 
whoever  undertakes  that  difficult  task  will  find  in  my 
notes  some  information  which  may  be  useful  in  perfecting 
his  work." 1 

Having  re-read  these  lines  attentively,  I  said  to  myself 
that  I  could  furnish  memoranda  and  information  which 
would  refute  errors,  brand  falsehoods,  and  bring  to  light 
what  I  knew  to  be  the  truth.  In  a  word,  I  felt  that  I 

1  NOTE  BY  CONSTANT.  —  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  cite  in  support  of  this 
statement  the  opinion  expressed  by  Bourrienne  in  regard  to  a  sad  event  which 
I  shall  notice  at  the  proper  time.  "It  was  the  night  before  the  return  of 
Marshal  Macdonald  to  Fontainebleau  that  they  say  Napoleon  attempted  to 
poison  himself.  But  as  I  have  no  reliable  information  in  respect  to  this 
matter,  and  as  I  wish  to  speak  only  of  matters  on  which  I  have  reliable  infor- 
mation, I  will  refrain  from  giving,  as  some  others  have  done,  their  hazardous 
conjectures  upon  so  grave  a  matter,  which  Napoleon  positively  denied  in  his 
conversation  at  St.  Helena.  The  only  person  who  can  solve  the  doubts  which 
exist  on  this  subject  is  Constant,  who,  they  assure  me,  did  not  quit  Napoleon 
once  during  the  whole  night."  BOUBRIENNE,  vol.  x. 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

could  give  in  my  testimony,  and  that  it  was  my  duty  to  do 
so,  in  the  long  trial  which  has  been  held  ever  since  the  over- 
throw of  the  Emperor ;  for  I  had  been  an  eye-witness,  had 
seen  everything,  and  could  say,  "I  was  there"  Others  also 
have  been  close  to  the  Emperor  and  his  court,  and  I  may 
often  repeat  what  they  have  said,  for  the  feats  which  they 
describe  I  had  the  same  opportunity  of  witnessing ;  but,  on 
the  other  hand,  whatever  I  know  of  private  matters,  and 
whatever  I  may  reveal  which  was  secret  and  unknown,  no 
one  till  this  time  could  possibly  have  known,  or  conse- 
quently have  related. 

From  the  departure  of  the  First  Consul  for  the  cam- 
paign of  Marengo,  whither  I  went  with  him,  until  the 
departure  from  Fontainebleau,  when  I  was  compelled  to 
leave  him,  I  was  absent  only  twice,  once  for  three  days  and 
once  for  seven  or  eight  days.  Excepting  these  short  leaves 
of  absence,  the  latter  of  which  was  on  account  of  my  health, 
I  quitted  the  Emperor  no  more  than  his  shadow. 

It  has  been  said  that  no  one  is  a  hero  to  his  valet  de 
chambre.  I  beg  leave  to  dissent  from  this.  The  Emperor, 
as  near  as  I  was  to  him,  was  always  a  hero ;  and  it  was  a 
great  advantage  also  to  see  the  man  as  he  was.  At  a  dis- 
tance you  were  sensible  only  of  the  prestige  of  his  glory 
and  his  power;  but  on  getting  closer  to  him  you  enjoyed, 
besides,  the  surprising  charm  of  his  conversation,  the  entire 
.simplicity  of  his  family  life,  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say, 
the  habitual  kindliness  of  his  character. 

The  reader,  if  curious  to  learn  beforehand  in  what  spirit 
these  Memoirs  are  written,  will  perhaps  read  with  interest 
this  passage  of  a  letter  that  I  wrote  to  my  publisher: 
"  Bourrienne  had,  perhaps,  reason  for  treating  Napoleon,  as 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

a  public  man,  with  severity.  But  we  view  him  from 
different  standpoints,  and  I  speak  only  of  the  hero  in 
undress.  He  was  then  almost  always  kind,  patient,  and 
rarely  unjust.  He  was  much  attached  to  those  about  him, 
and  received  with  kindness  and  good  nature  the  services 
of  those  whom  he  liked.  He  was  a  man  of  habit.  It  is  as 
a  devoted  servant  that  I  wish  to  speak  of  the  Emperor, 
and  in  no  wise  as  a  critic.  It  is  not,  however,  an  apotheo- 
sis in  several  volumes  that  I  wish  to  write:  for  I  am  on 
this  point  somewhat  like  fathers  who  recognize  the  faults 
of  their  children,  and  reprove  them  earnestly,  while  at  the 
same  time  they  are  ready  to  make  excuses  for  their  errors." 

I  trust  that  I  shall  be  pardoned  the  familiarity,  or,  if 
you  will,  the  inappropriateness  of  this  comparison,  for  the 
sake  of  the  feeling  which  dictates  it.  Besides,  I  do  not 
propose  either  to  praise  or  blame,  but  simply  to  relate  that 
which  fell  within  my  knowledge,  without  trying  to  preju- 
dice the  opinion  of  any  one. 

I  cannot  close  this  introduction  without  a  few  words 
as  to  myself,  in  reply  to  the  calumnies  which  have  not 
spared,  even  in  his  retirement,  a  man  who  should  have  no 
enemies,  if,  to  be  protected  from  malice,  it  were  sufficient 
to  have  done  a  little  good,  and  no  harm  to  any  one.  I  am 
reproached  with  having  abandoned  my  master  after  his  fall, 
and  not  having  shared  his  exile.  I  will  show  that,  if  I  did 
not  follow  the  Emperor,  it  was  because  I  lacked  not  the 
will  but  the  power  to  do  so.  God  knows  that  I  do  not 
wish  to  undervalue  the  devotion  of  the  faithful  servants 
who  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  Emperor  to  the  end. 
However,  it  is  not  improper  to  say  that,  however  terrible 
the  fall  of  the  Emperor  was  for  liim,  the  situation  (I  speak 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

here  only  of  the  personal  advantages),  in  the  island  of  Elba, 
of  those  who  remained  in  his  service,  and  who  were  not  de- 
tained in  France  by  an  inexorable  necessity,  was  still  not 
without  its  advantages ;  and  it  was  not,  therefore,  my  per- 
sonal interests  which  caused  me  to  leave  him.  I  shall 
explain  hereafter  my  reasons  for  quitting  his  service. 

I  shall  also  give  the  truth  as  to  the  alleged  abuse  of 
confidence,  of  which,  according  to  others,  I  was  guilty  in 
respect  to  the  Emperor.  A  simple  statement  of  the  mistake 
which  gave  rise  to  this  falsehood,  I  trust,  will  clear  me  of 
every  suspicion  of  indelicacy ;  but  if  it  is  necessary  to  add 
other  proofs,  I  could  obtain  them  from  those  who  lived 
nearest  to  the  Emperor,  and  who  were  in  a  condition  to 
both  know  and  understand  what  passed  between  us ;  and 
lastly,  I  invoke  fifty  years  of  a  blameless  life,  and  I  can 
say :  "  When  I  was  in  a  situation  to  render  great  services, 
I  did  so ;  but  I  never  sold  them.  I  could  have  derived 
advantages  from  the  petitions  that  I  made  for  people,  who, 
in  consequence  of  my  solicitations,  have  acquired  immense 
fortunes;  but  I  refused  even  the  proper  acknowledgment 
which  in  their  gratitude  (very  deep  at  that  time)  they  felt 
compelled  to  offer  me,  by  proposing  an  interest  in  their  en- 
terprises. I  did  not  seek  to  take  advantage,  for  my  own 
benefit,  of  the  generosity  with  which  the  Emperor  so  long 
deigned  to  honor  me,  in  order  to  enrich  or  secure  places  for 
my  relatives ;  and  I  retired  poor  after  fifteen  years  passed 
in  the  personal  service  of  the  richest  and  most  powerful 
monarch  of  Europe." 

Having  made  these  statements,  I  shall  await  with  con- 
fidence the  judgment  of  my  readers. 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS. 


VOLUME  I. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  of  the  author.  — His  father,  his  relatives.  —  His  early  patrons.  — Emi- 
gration and  abandonment.  —  The  suspect  at  12  years  of  age.  —  Aldermen 
or  imbeciles.  — The  chief  of  squadron,  Michau. —  Gobert.  —  Carrat. — Ma- 
dame Bonaparte  and  her  daughter.  —  Bouquets  and  sentimental  scene. — 
Economy  of  Carrat  regarding  others  and  liberality  towards  himself. — 
Cowardice.  —  Frolicsome  tricks  of  Madame  Bonaparte  and  Hortense. — 
The  ghost. — The  nocturnal  shower-bath.  —  The  downfall.  —  The  author 
enters  the  service  of  Eugene  de  Beauharnais Pages  35-43. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Prince  Eugene  apprenticed  to  a  carpenter.  —  Bonaparte  and  the  sword  of  the 
Marquis  de  Beauharnais. — First  meeting  of  Napoleon  and  Josephine. — 
Appearance  and  character  of  Eugene.  —  Candor.  —  Kindness  of  heart.  — 
Fond  of  amusements.  —  Breakfast  of  young  officers  and  artists.  —Mysti- 
fications and  the  mystified.  —  Thiemet  and  Dugazon.  —  Stammerers  and 
baptism  of  ice-water.  —  The  former  valet  resumes  his  place.  —  Constant 
enters  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Pleased  with  his  new  position. 

—  Recollections  of  the  18th  Brumairo.  —  Political  breakfasts.  —  The  Direc- 
tors in  charge.  —  Barras  in  Greek  costume.  —  Abbe  Sie'yes  on  horseback. 

—  The  rendezvous.  —  Mistake   of  Murat.  —  President  Gohier,  General 
Jube,  and  the  grand  maneuvers.  —  General  Marmont.  —  The  saloon  of 
Josephine.  — Talleyrand.  — The  family  of  General  Bonaparte.  — M.  Vol- 
ney. — M.  Denon.  —  M.  Lemercier.  —  M.  do  Laigle.  —  General  Bournon- 
ville.  —  Horseback  ride.  —Fall  of  Hortense.  —  Good  family  man.  —  The 
game  of  prisoners'  base.  —  Bonaparte  not  always  conqueror.  —  Net  income 
of  Malmaison.  —  Improvements.  —  Theater  and  amateur  actors ;  Eugene, 
Jerome  Bonaparte,  Lauriston,   etc.,   Mademoiselle  Hortenso,  Madame 
Murat,  the  two  young  ladies  Auguie.  —  Napoleon  a  simple  looker-on  . 

Pages  44-61. 
CHAPTER  III. 

M.  Charvet.  —  Events  prior  to  the  author's  entrance  into  the  service  of 
Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Departure  for  Egypt.  —  La  Pomone.  —  Madame 

15 


16  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Bonaparte  at  Plombieres.  —  Terrible  fall.  —  Madame  Bonaparte  forced  to 
remain  at  the  Springs,  sends  for  her  daughter.  —  Dainties  and  mischief. 
— Euphe"mia. —  La  Pomone  captured  by  the  English.  —  Return  to  Paris.  — 
Purchase  of  Malmaison.  — First  plots  against  the  life  of  the  First  Consul. 

—  Marble-cutters.  —  Poisoned  tobacco.  —  Projects  of  kidnapping.  —  In- 
stallation in  the  Tuileries.  —  The  horses  and  saber  of  Campo  Formio.  — 
The  heroes  of  Egypt  and  Italy.  —  Lannes.  — Murat.  —  Eugene.  — Distri- 
bution of  apartments  at  the  Tuileries.  —  Kitchen  service  of  the  First 
Consul.  —  Service  of  the  bedroom. — M.  do  Bourrienne.  —  Game  of  bil- 
liards with  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  The  watch-dogs.  —  Accident  to  a  work- 
man. —  Holidays  of  the  First  Consul.  —  The  First  Consul  much  loved  by 
his  household.  —  "  They  would  not  dare."  — The  First  Consul  inspecting 
his  household  accounts.  —  The  yoke  of  misery Pages  62-75. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  First  Consul  takes  the  author  into  his  service.  —  Forgotten.  —  His  chagrin. 

—  Consolation  offered  by  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Reparation.  —  Departure 
of  Constant  for  the  headquarters  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Enthusiasm  of 
soldiers  setting  out  for  Italy. — The  author  rejoins  the  First  Consul. — 
Hospice  of  Mt.  St.  Bernard.  —  The  passage.  —  The  mountain  sledge.  — 
Humanity  of  the  monks,  and  generosity  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Passage  of 
Mt.  Albaredo.  —  Coup  d'ceil  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Capture  of  the  fort  of 
Bard.  —  Entry  into  Milan.  —  Joy  and  confidence  of  the  Milanese.  —  The 
colleagues    of    Constant.  —  Hambard.  —  HeT)ert.  —  Roustan.  —  Ibrahim- 
Ali.  —  Anger  of  an  Arab.  —  The  poniard.  —  The  unexpected  bath.  —  Con- 
tinuation of  the  campaign  of  Italy. — The  combat  of  Montebello.  —  Tho 
arrival  of  Desaix.  —  Long  interview  with  the  First  Consul.  —  Anger  of 
Desaix  against  the  English.  —  Battle  of  Marengo.  — Painful  uncertainty. 

—  Victory.  —  Death  of  Desaix.  —  Grief  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Aides-de- 
camp of  Desaix  become  aides-de-camp  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Messieurs 
Rapp  and  Savary.  —Tomb  of  Desaix  on  Mt.  St.  Bernard  .       Pages  76-91. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Return  to  Milan  en  route  to  Paris.  —The  singer  Marches!  and  the  First  Con- 
sul. —  An  impertinence  and  some  days  in  prison.  — Madame  Grassini.  — 
Return  to  France  by  way  of  Mont  Cenis.  —  Triumphal  Arches.  —  Retinue 
of  young  girls.  —  Entrance  into  Lyons.  —  Couthon  and  the  destroyers.  — 
The  First  Consul  orders  the  rebuilding  of  the  Place  Belcour.  —  The  car- 
riage upset.  —  Illuminations  at  Paris.  —  Kleber.  —  Calumnies  against  the 
First  Consul.  — Constant's  horse  falls.  —  Kindness  of  the  First  Consul 
and  Madame  Bonaparte  to  Constant.  —  Generosity  of  the  First  Consul.  — 
Emotion  of  the  author.  —The  First  Consul  outrageously  misrepresented. 

—  The  First  Consul,  Je'romo  Bonaparte,  and  Colonel  Lacuee.  —  The  First 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  17 

Consul's  fancy  for  Madamo  D .  — Jealousy  of  Madamo  Bonaparte  and 

precautions  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Indiscreet  curiosity  of  a  chambermaid. 

—  Throats  and  compulsory  discretion.  —  The  little  house  in  the  "Alice 
des  Veuves."  —  The  First  Consul's  attentions  to  his  wife.  —  Morals  of  the 
First  Consul,  and  his  manner  towards  women Pages  92-101. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  infernal  machine. — The  most  invalid  of  architects.  — A  fortunate  chance. 

—  Haste  and  delay  equally  advantageous. — Hortense  slightly  wounded. 

—  Fright  of  Madame  Murat  and  necessary  consequences.  —  Germain,  the 
coachman. — How  he  got  the  name  of  Csesar. —  Incorrect  statements  on 
the  subject. — Dinner  given  him  by  500  coachmen. — The  author  at  the 
Feydeau  theater  at  the  time  of  the  explosion. — Fright. — Race  bare- 
headed.—  The  inflexible  sentinels. — The  First  Consul  returns  to  the 
Tuileries.  —  Words  of  the  First  Consul  to    Constant.  —  The  Consular 
guard.  —  The  residence  of  the  First  Consul   put  under  guard.  —  The 
utmost  fidelity. — The  Jacobins  innocent,  and  the  Royalists  guilty. — 
Grand  review.  —  Joy  of  soldiers  and  people.  —  Universal  peace.  —  Public 
rejoicings  and  improvised  fetes. — Reception  of  Corps   Diplomatic  and 
Lord  Cornwallis.  —  Military  luxury.  —  The  Regent  diamond. 

Pages  102-112. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  King  of  Etruria.  —  Madamo  de  Montesson. — A  monarch  not  fond  of 
work. — Conversation  on  the  subject  between  the  First  and  Second  Con- 
suls. —  A  word  as  to  the  return  of  the  Bourbons.  —  Intelligence  and  con- 
versation of  Don  Louis. — Peculiar  economy. — A  present  of  a  hundred 
thousand  crowns,  and  a  royal  gift  of  six  francs.  —  Harshness  of  Don 
Louis  towards  his  servants.  —  Haughtiness  towards  a  diplomat  and  dis- 
like of  business.  —  The  King  of  Etruria  installed  by  the  future  King 
of  Naples. — The  Queen  of  Etruria. — Her  indifference  to  dress.  —  Her 
good  sense.  —  Her  kindness.  — Her  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  her  duties. 

—  Magnificent/e<es  at  the  residence  of  Talleyrand.  —  At  the  residence  of 
Madame  de  Montesson.  —  At  the  residence  of  the  Minister  of  the  Inte- 
rior.—The  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Marengo. — The  departure  of 
their  Majesties Pages  113-119. 

CHAPTER  Vin. 

Infatuation  of  a  crazy  fellow  for  Hortense.  —  Marriage  of  Louis  Bonaparte 
and  Hortense.  —  Regrets.  —  Character  of  M.  Louis.  —  Atrocious  calumny 
against  the  Emperor  and  his  step-daughter.  —  General  Duroc  marries 
Mademoiselle  Hervas  d'Almenara. —  Character  of  this  lady.  —  Piano 
broken  and  watch  dashed  to  pieces.  —  Marriage  and  sadness.  —  Misfor- 
tunes of  Horteuse,  before,  during,  and  after  her  elevation.  —  Visit  of  the 


18  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

First  Consul  to  Lyons.  —  Festivals  and  congratulations.  —  The  soldiers  of 
Egypt.  —  The  legate  of  the  Pope.  —  The  deputies  of  the  College  of  Car- 
dinals.—  Death  of  the  Archbishop  of  Milan. — Stanzas  on  the  occasion. 

—  The  poets  of  the  Empire.  —  The  First  Consul  and  his  writing-master. 

—  The  Abbe  Dupuis,  librarian  at  Malmaison Pages  120-133. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Proclamation  of  the  law  of  public  worship.  —  Conversation  on  the  subject.  — 
The  countersign.  —  The  Plenipotentiaries  of  the  Concordat.  —  Abbe  Ber- 
nier  and  Cardinal  Caprara.  — The  red  hat  and  the  red  cap.  —  Costume  of 
the  First  Consul  and  his  colleagues.  —  The  first  Te  Deum  chanted  at  Notre 
Dame.  —  Varied  feelings  of  the  spectators.  —  The  Republican  calendar.  — 
The  beard  and  the  shirt.  —  General  Abdallah-Menou. — His  courage  in 
risking  his  head  with  the  Jacobins.  — His  flag.  — His  romantic  death.  — 
Institution  of  the  order  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  —  The  First  Consul  at 
Ivry.  —  The  inscriptions  of  1802  and  1814.  —  The  Mayor  of  Ivry  and  the 
Mayor  of  Evreux.  —  Simplicity  of  a  high  functionary. — The  cinq-z-en- 
fants.  —  Arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Rouen.  —  M.  Beugnot  and  Arch- 
bishop Cambaceres.  — The  Mayor  of  Rouen  in  the  First  Consul's  carriage. 
— Generals  Soult  and  Moncey.  — The  First  Consul  has  a  corporal  to  take 
breakfast  with  him. — The  First  Consul  at  Havre  and  Honfleur. — De- 
parture from  Havre  for  Fecamp.  —  Arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Dieppe. 

—  Return  to  SaintnCloud Pages  134-151. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Influence  of  the  tour  of  Normandy  upon  the  mind  of  the  First  Consul.  —  The 
genesis  of  the  Empire.  —  Memoirs  and  history.  —  First  ladies  and  officers 
of  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Mesdames  de  Re'musat,  de  Tallouet,  de  Lucay, 
de  Lauriston.  —  Mademoiselles  d'Alberg  and  de  Lufay.  —  Prudence  at 
Court.  —  Messieurs  de  Remusat,  de  Cramayel,  de  Lufay,  Didelot.  — The 
palace  first  refused,  then  accepted.  —  Gewgaws.  —  The  servants  of  Mario 
Antoinette  better  treated  under  the  Consulate  than  since  the  Restora- 
tion.—  Fire  at  Saint-Cloud.  —  The  waiting-room.  —  The  bourgeois  bed. 

—  How  the  First  Consul  went  at  night  to  his  wife's  room.  —  Duty  and 
conjugal  triumph.  —  A  gallant  caught  in  the  act.  —  Excessive  severity 
towards  a  young  girl.  —  Arms  of  honor  and  the  soldiers.  —  The  baptism 
of  blood.  —  The  First  Consul  following  the  plow.  —  Laborers  and  coun- 
selors of  state. — The  grenadier  of  the  Republic  turned  laborer. — Audi- 
ence of  the  First  Consul.  —  The  author  introduces  him  into  the  General's 
cabinet.  —  Kind  reception  and  singular  conversation    .    .  Pages  152-164. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  envoy  of  the  Bey  of  Tunis  and  Arab  horses.  —  Bad  faith  of  England.  — 
Visit  to  Boulogne.  — In  Flanders  and  Belgium.  —  Continual  journeys.  — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  19 

The  author  does  duty  as  head  valet.  —  Debut  of  Constant  as  barber 
of  the  First  Consul.  —  Apprenticeship.  —  Plebeian  chins.  —  The  eagle 
glance. — The  First  Consul  hard  to  shave.  —  Constant  persuades  him  to 
shave  himself.  — His  reasons  for  persuading  the  First  Consul  to  this.  — 
The  First  Consul's  confidence  and  imprudent  sense  of  security. — The 
first  lesson.  —  Some  cuts. — Mild  reproaches. — Awkwardness  of  the 
First  Consul  in  holding  his  razor.  —  Leading  citizens  and  their  ha- 
rangues.—  Arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Boulogne. — Preliminaries  of 
the  formation  of  the  camp  of  Boulogne.  —  Address  of  twenty  fathers  of 
families.  —  Sea-fight  gained  by  Admiral  Bruix  against  the  English.  — 
Dinner  and  victory.  —  The  English  and  the  iron-clad  coast.  —  An 
attempt  upon  the  person  of  the  First  Consul. — Rapidity  of  the  journey. 

—  The  minister  of  police.  — Presents  offered  by  the  cities.  — Public  works 
ordered  by  the  First  Consul. — Munificence.  — The  First  Consul  a  bad 
coachman. — Pallor   of  Cambaceres. — The  fainting-fit.  —  The  precepts 
of  the  gospel.  —  Slumber  without  dreams. — The  Ottoman  ambassador. 

—  Cashmere  shawls.  —  The  Mussulman  at  prayers  and  at  the  theater. 

Pages  165-177. 
CHAPTER  XII. 

Another  journey  to  Boulogne.  — Visit  to  the  flotilla,  and  review  of  the  troops. 

—  Jealousy  between  the  Line  and  the  Guard. — The  First  Consul  in 
camp.  —  The  General's  anger  against  the  soldiers.  —  Ennui  of  the  offi- 
cers, and  pleasures  of  the  camp.  — Timidity  of  the  ladies  of  Boulogne.  — 
Jealous  husbands.  —  Visits  of  the  ladies  of  Paris,  Abbeville,  Dunkirk, 
and  Amiens  to  the  camp  of  Boulogne.  —  Evenings  at  the  house  of  the 
mistress  of  Colonel  Joseph  Bonaparte.  —  Generals  Soult,  Saint-Hilaire, 
and  Andreossy.  —  An  intriguing  woman  and  two  happy  lovers.  —  Curios- 
ity of  the  First  Consul. — The  First  Consul  taken  fora  commissary  of 
war.  —  Commencement  of  favor  shown  to  General  Bertram!.  —  Superin- 
tendent Arcambal  and  the  two  visitors.  —  The  First  Consul  spying  upon 
his  brother,  who  pretends  not  to  recognize  him.  — The  First  Consul  and 
innocent  sports.  —  He  has  nothing  to  give  as  a  pledge.  —  Billet-doux  of 
the  First  Consul.  —  Naval  combat.  —  The  First  Consul  commands   a 
movement,  and  makes  a  mistake.  —  The  mistake  becomes  evident,  and 
the  general's  silence. — The  First  Consul  aims  the  cannon,  and  has  the 
balls  heated.  —  Fight  between  two  Picards.  —  Continual  roar  of  artillery. 

—  Dining  to  the  sound  of  cannon.  —  English  frigate  dismantled,  and  a 
brig  sunk Pages  178-189. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Return  of  the  First  Consul  to  Paris.  —  Arrival  of  Prince  Camillo  Borghese.  — 
Pauline  Bonaparte  and  her  first  husband,  General  Le  Clerc. — His  love 
for  his  wife.  — Description  of  General  Le  Clerc.  — His  departure  for  San 
Domingo. — The  First  Consul  orders  his  sister  to  go  with  her  husband. 


20  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

—  Revolt  of  Christophe  and  of  Dessalines.  —  Arrival  of  the  general  and 
his  wife  at  the  Cape.  —  Courage  of  Madame  Le  Clerc.  —  Insurrection  of 
the  hlacks.  —  The  remnant  of  the  army  of  Brest  and  twelve  thousand 
revolted  negroes.  —  Heroic  courage  of  the  general-iii-chief ,  attacked  by 
a  mortal  disease. — Nobility  and  intrepidity.  —  Pauline  saves  her  son. — 
Death  of  General  Le  Clerc. — [Marriage  of  Pauline.  —  Chagrin  of  Lafon, 
and  remark  of  Mademoiselle  Duchesnois.  —  Jules  de  Canouville  and 
the  Princess  Borghese.  —  Disgrace  of  the  princess  with  the  Emperor.  — 
Generosity  of  the  princess  towards  her  brother.  — The  only  friend  remain- 
ing to  him.  —  The  diamonds  of  the  princess  in  the  Emperor's  carriage  at 
Waterloo Pages  190-196. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Arrest  of  General  Moreau.  —  Constant  sent  as  a  scout.  —  General  Moreau 
married  with  the  aid  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Mile.  Hulot.  —  Madame 
Hulot's  high  pretensions.  —  Opposition  of  Moreau.  —  His  railleries.  — 
Intrigues  and  conspiracies  of  the  discontented.  —  Evidences  of  friendship 
given  to  Moreau  by  the  First  Consul.  —  What  the  Emperor  said  and  did 
the  day  Moreau's  aides-de-camp  were  arrested.  —  The  companion-in-arms 
of  General  Foy.  —  Carried  off.  —  Excessive  harshness  towards  Colonel 
Delelee. — Ruse  of  a  child. — Arbitrary  measures. — Inflexibility  of  the 
Emperor. — The  deputies  of  Besan9on  and  Marshal  Moncey.  —  Panic, 
terror,  and  firmness.  —  The  friends  of  the  court.  —  A  solemn  audience  at 
the  Tuileries.  —  Reception  of  the  Besan9onese.  —  Courageous  reply. — 
Reparation.  —  Change  of  views. — The  former  comrades.  —  Chief  of  staff 
of  the  army  of  Portugal.  —  Premature  death. — Surveillance  exercised 
over  the  people  of  the  Emperor  at  each  new  conspiracy.  — The  guardian 
of  the  portfolio. — Register  of  custodians  of  the  palaces.  —  The  Emperor's 
anger  excited  by  the  name  of  a  suspected  person  ....  Pages  197-209. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Awaking  of  the  First  Consul,  March  21, 1804.  —  The  First  Consul's.silence.  — 
Josephine  comes  to  the  First  Consul's  room.  —  Distress  of  Josephine  and 
pallor  of  the  First  Consul. —"The  wretches  have  been  too  quick. "- 
News  of  the  death  of  the  Duke  d'Enghien.  —  Agitation  of  the  First  Con- 
sul. —  Preludes  to  the  Empire.  —  The  First  Consul,  Emperor. — The  Sen-, 
ate  at  Saint-Cloud.  —  Cambaceres  first  to  salute  the  Emperor  as  Sire.  — 
The  Senators  pay  their  respects  to  the  Empress.  —  Joy  in  the  chateau.  — 
Everybody  promoted. — The  saloon  and  the  antechamber.  —  Embarrass- 
ment of  all  the  servants.  —  The  first  awaking  of  the  Emperor.  —  Tho 
French  princes.  —  Monsieur  Lucien  and  Madame  Jouberton.  — The  mar- 
shals of  the  Empire.  — Awkwardness  of  the  new  courtiers.  —  Tho  cham- 
berlains and  grand  officers. —  Lessons  given  by  officers  of  the  old  court. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  21 

—  Contempt  of  the  Emperor  for  the  anniversaries  of  the  Revolution. — 
The  Emperor's  first  fete  and  the  first  Imperial  cortege.  — The  Temple  of 
Mars  and  the  grand  master  of  ceremonies.  — The  Archbishop  Du  Belloy 
and  the  grand  chancelor  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  —  The  man  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  Imperial  accolade. — Departure  from  Paris  for  the  camp  of 
Boulogne. —  The  only  leave  of  absence  which  the  Emperor  gave  me. — My 
arrival  at  Boulogne. — Details  of  my  service  with  the  Emperor.  — Mes- 
sieurs de  Remusat,  Boyer,  Yvan.  —  Habits  of  the  Emperor.  —  De  Bour- 
rienne  and  the  tip  of  the  ear. — Habit  of  giving  little  slaps. — Violence 
of  the  Emperor  towards  his  equerry.  —  Caulaincourt,  grand  equerry.  — 
Reparation.  —  Liberal  indemnification Pages  210-222. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Emperor's  intense  application  to  work.  —  Roustan  and  the  flask  of 
brandy.  —  Army  of  Boulogne.  —  The  four  camps.  — The  Pont-de-Briques. 

—  The  Emperor's  barrack.  —  The  council-chamber.  —  The  eagle  guided  by 
its  guardian  star.  —  The  Emperor's  bedroom. — The  bed.  —  Furniture. — 
Telescope-room.  —  Trunk.  —  Distribution    of    apartments.  —  The    sema- 
phore. —  The  gigantic  mortars.  —  The  Emperor  firing  the  first  bomb.  — 
Barrack  of  Marshal  Soult.  —  The  Emperor  viewing  from  his  chamber 
Dover  and  its  garrison.  —  The  streets  of  the  camp  of  the  right  wing.  — 
Road  cut  perpendicularly  in  the  cliff.  —  The  forgotten  engineer.  —  The 
flotilla.  —  The  forts.  —  Barrack  of  Prince  Joseph.  —  The  grenadier  stuck 
in  the  mud.  —  Instance  of  the  Emperor's  kindness.  —  The  bridge  of  ser- 
vice. —  Terrible  countersign.  —  The  sentinels  and  sailors  of  the  watch. — 
Exclusion  of  women  and  strangers.  —  The  spies.  —  Discharge  of  mus- 
ketry.—  Schoolmaster  shot. — The  fire-ships. — Terror  in   the   town. — 
Military  song.  —  False  alarm.  —  Consternation.  —  Tranquillity  of  Madame 

F . — The  commandant  condemned  to  death,  but  pardoned  by  the 

Emperor Pages  223-236. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Distribution  of  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  in  the  camp  of  Boulogne.  — 
The  helmet  of  Duguesclin.  —  Prince  Joseph,  colonel. — Military  fete. — 
Racing  with  launches  and  on  horseback.  —  Jealousy  of  a  council  of  supe- 
rior officers. — Justice  done  by  the  Emperor. — Unfortunate  fall,  fol- 
lowed by  a  triumph.  —  Petition  at  close  range.  —  The  minister  of  the 
navy  falls  into  the  water.  —  Hilarity  of  the  Emperor.  —  The  gluttonous 
general.  —  The  ball.  — The  boulangere  danced  by  the  Emperor  and  Ma- 
dame Bertrand.  —  The  Boulognese  at  the  ball.  — The  macaroons  and  ridi- 
cule.—  The  wife  of  Marshal  Soult  queen  of  the  ball.  —  The  beautiful 
suppliant.  —  The  magazine  guard  condemned  to  death.  —  Clemency  of 
the  Emperor Pages  237-245. 


22  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Popularity  of  the  Emperor  at  Boulogne.  —  His  fatal  obstinacy.  —  Firmness  of 
Admiral  Bruix. — The  Emperor's  riding-whip  and  the  admiral's  sword. 

—  Unjust  exile.  —  Tempest  and  shipwreck.  —  Courage  of  the  Emperor.  — 
The  corpses  and  the  little  hat.  —  Infallible  means  of  stifling  murmurs. 

—  The  drummer  saved  on  his  drum. — Dialogue  between  two  sailors. — 
False  embarkment.  —  Proclamation.  —  Column  of  the  camp  of  Boulogne. 

—  Departure  of  the  Emperor. — Accounts  to  be  investigated.  —  Objec- 
tions made  by  the  Emperor  to  paying  the  expenses  of  furnishing  his 
barracks.  —  Flattery  of  a  creditor.  —  The  account  of  the  engineer  paid  in 
rix  dollars  and  frederics.  —  Journey  to  Belgium.  —  Leave  for  twenty-four 
hours.  — The  inhabitants  of  Alost.  — Warm  reception  to  Constant.  —  He 
is  feted  in  honor  of  his  master.  —  The  Emperor's  kindness  to  him. 

Pages  246-266. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Description  of  the  Emperor.  —  Interest  attached  to  the  least  details  concerning 
historical  personages.  —  Floury  and  Michelot  in  the  role  of  Frederick  the 
Great.  —  The  memoirs  of  Constant  consulted  by  authors  and  artists. — 
Bonaparte  on  his  return  from  Egypt.  —  His  portrait  by  Horace  Vernet.  — 
Bonaparte's  forehead.  —  His  hair.  —  Color  and  expression  of  his  eyes.  — 
His  mouth,  lips,  and  teeth.  —  Shape  of  his  nose.  —  His  general  appear- 
ance.—  His  extreme  leanness.  —  The  size  and  shape  of  his  head. — 
Necessary  to  line  his  hats  with  wadding,  and  to  soften  them  by  previous 
use.  —  Shape  of  his  ears. — Extreme  sensitiveness  of  his  scalp. — The 
Emperor's  height. — His  neck.  —  His  shoulders.  —  His  chest.  —  His  leg 
and  foot.  —  His  feet.  —  Beauty  of  his  hand  and  his  coquetry  with  it.  — 
Habit  of  slightly  biting  his  nails.  —  Takes  on  flesh  with  the  Empire. — 
The  Emperor's  complexion.  —  Singular  convulsive  motion.  —  Remarka- 
ble peculiarity  of  the  heart  of  Napoleon.  —  Time  spent  at  the  table.  — 
Wise  precaution  of  Prince  Eugene.  —  The  Emperor's  breakfast.  —  His 
manner  of  eating.  —  Accommodating  guests.  —  Favorite  dishes  of  the  Em- 
peror. —  Chicken  a  la  Marengo.  —  Use  of  coffee.  —  Common  error  on  this 
point.  —  Conjugal  attention  of  the  two  Empresses.  —  Use  of  wine.  — 
Anecdote  of  Marshal  Augereau.  —  Error  and  tales  refuted  by  Constant. 

—  Imprudent  confidence  of  the  Emperor.  —  Bad  effects  of  the  habit  of 
eating  too  fast.  —  Josephine  and  Constant  sick  nurses  of  the  Emperor.  — 
The  Emperor  a  bad  patient.  —  Tenderness,  care,  and  courage  of  Jose- 
phine.—  Diseases  of  the  Emperor.  —  Tenacity  of  a  disease  coiitracted 
at  the  siege  of  Toulon.  —  Colonel  Bonaparte  and  the  rammer. — Wounds 
of  the  Emperor.  —  The  bayonet  wound,  and  the  gun-shot  of  the  Tyro- 
lese    rifleman. — Repugnance    to    medicine.  —  Precaution    advised   by 
Doctor  Corvisart. — The  Emperor's  hour  of    rising.  —  His  familiarity 
towards  Constant.  —  Conversations  with  Doctors  Corvisart  and  Yvan.  — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  23 

The  doctor's  ears  pulled,  and  his  resistance.  —  Talks  of  the  Emperor 
with  Constant.  —  Occasion  neglected  and  lost.  —  Tea  on  rising  from  his 
hed. — The  Emperor's  bath. — Reading  the  papers.  —  First  work  with 
his  secretary.  —  Summer  and  winter  dressing-gowns.  —  Night-cap  and 
bath.  —  Ceremony  of  shaving. — Bathings,  rubbings,  toilet,  etc.  —  Cos- 
tume. —  Habit  of  having  himself  dressed.  — Napoleon  born  to  have 
valets  de  chambre. — Royal  etiquette  not  re-established.  —  The  Emper- 
or's hour  for  retiring.  —  His  hasty  manner  of  undressing.  —  How  he 
called  Constant.  —  The  warming-pan.  —  The  night-lamp.  — The  Empress 
Josephine  the  Emperor's  favorite  reader.  —  The  perfume-boxes.  —  Na- 
poleon very  sensitive  to  cold.  —  Passion  for  bathing. — Work  at  night. — 
Anecdote.  —  Talleyrand  asleep  in  the  Emperor's  bedroom.  —  Drinks  of 
the  Emperor  during  the  night.  —  Excessive  economy  of  the  Emperor 
in  his  household.  —  New  Year's  gifts  to  Constant.  —  Pinching  ears. — 
Imperial  tenderness  and  familiarity.  —  Prince  of  Neuchatel. 

Pages  257-275. 
CHAPTER  XX. 

Sum  allowed  by  the  Emperor  for  his  clothing.  —  Estimates  cut  down.  —  Office 
of  a  thousand  crowns  and  revenue  of  a  commune.  —  When  I  was  sub- 
lieutenant. —  Fixed  ideas  of  the  Emperor  in  regard  to  economy.  —  Fur- 
nishers and  agents  accountable.  —  Constant's  carriage  taken  away  by 
the  grand  equerry,  and  restored  by  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor  throw- 
ing in  the  fire  books  which  displeased  him.  —  The  Germany  of  the 
Baroness  de  Stael. —  The  Emperor  superintending  the  reading  of  the 
people  of  his  household.  —  How  the  Emperor  mounted  on  horseback.  — 
The  training  of  his  horses.  — M.  Jardin,  the  Emperor's  equerry  —  Favorite 
horses  of  the  Emperor.  —  The  horse  of  Mt.  St.  Bernard  and  Marengo 
allowed  a  pension  in  old  age.  —  Intelligence  and  pride  of  an  Arab  horse 
of  the  Emperor.  — Riding  and  vaulting  taught  the  pages  of  the  Emperor. 

—  The  Emperor  in  the  hunt. — The  stag  saved  by  Josephine.  —  Ill-tem- 
per and  cruelty  of  one  of  the  Empress's  ladies  of  honor.  —  Was  the 
Emperor  ever  wounded  in  the  hunt  ?  — Napoleon  a  bad  shot.  —A  hunt 
with  falcons.  —  Falcons  sent  by  the  King  of  Holland.  — Fondness  of  the 
Emperor  for  the  theater.  —  His  favorites.  —  The  great  Corneille  and 
Cinna. —  The  death  of  Csesar.  —Representations  at  the  theater  of  Saint- 
Cloud. — Baptiste   Junior  and  Michaut.  —  The  Venetians  of   Arnault, 
Senior.  —  Literary  conversations  with  the  Emperor  very  improving  to 
Constant.  —  Use  of  tobacco.  —  Popular  errors.— The  Emperor's  tobacco- 
boxes. —The  gazelles  of  Saint-Cloud.  — The  Persian  ambassador's  pipe. 

—  The  Emperor  not  an  adept  in  smoking.  —  Constant  gives  him  his  first 
and  only  lesson  in  smoking.  —  Awkwardness  and  disgust  of  the  Emperor. 

—  His  opinion  of  smokers.  —  The  Emperor's  clothes.  —  The  gray  over- 
coat.—  Aversion  of  the  Emperor  to  changes  in  fashion.  —  Subterfuges  of 
Constant  in  order  to  persuade  the  Emperor  to  adopt  them. — Elegance  of 


24  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

the  King  of  Naples.  —  Discussion  upon  toilet  between  the  Emperor  and 
Murat. — Royal  pun.  —  Fanciful  elegance.  —  The  tailor  Leger. —  Napo- 
leon and  the  citizen-gentleman.  —  The  dress-coat  and  the  black  cravat.  — 
Vests  and  knee-breeches  of  the  Emperor.  —  Student  habits.  —  Spots  of 
ink.  —  The  Emperor's  shoes  and  stockings.  —  Another  habit.  —  The  Em- 
peror's buckles.  —  Napoleon  still  retaining  the  same  shoemaker  under 
the  Empire  that  he  employed  at  the  military  school. — The  shoemaker 
summoned  to  the  Emperor's  room.  —  Embarrassment  and  artlessness. 
— Linen  and  cipher  of  the  Emperor.  —  English  flannel. — The  Empress 
Josephine  and  the  cashmere  vests.  —  Lie  about  the  cuirass.  —  The  Em- 
peror's bonbonniere.  —  His  decorations.  —  The  sword  of  Austerlitz.  — 
The  swords  of  the  Emperor.  —  His  journeys.  —  Why  the  Emperor  did  not 
announce  beforehand  the  moment  of  his  departure  and  the  length  of  his 
journeys.  —  Orders  as  to  expenses  on  the  road.  -'^•Presents,  gratuities,  and 
alms.  —  Questions  asked  the  curte.  —  Ecclesiastics  decorated  with  the 
star  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  —  Aversion  of  the  Emperor  to  embarrassed 
replies. —  The  service  on  the  journey.  —  Anecdotes. —  Captain  by  mistake. 

—  Wrong  done  a  veteran.  —  Military  reply.  —  Reparation.  Pages  276-29:?. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Pope  leaves  Rome  to  attend  the  coronation  of  the  Emperor.  —  He  passes 
Mont  Cenis.  —  His  arrival  in  France. — Religious  enthusiasm.  —  Meeting 
of  the  Pope  and  the  Emperor.  —  Requirements  of  etiquette. — Respect 
paid  to  the  Pope  by  the  Emperor.  — Entrance  of  the  Pope  into  Paris. — 
He  lodges  at  the  Tuileries.  —  Delicate  attentions  of  the  Emperor,  and 
gratitude  of  the  Holy  Father.  —  The  new  eldest  son  of  the  Church. — 
Description  of  Pius  VII.  —  His  abstemiousness  not  imitated  by  the  peo- 
ple of  his  suite.  —  The  Pope's  stay  at  Paris.  —  Enthusiasm  of  the  faith- 
ful. —  Visit  of  the  Pope  to  the  public  buildings.  —  Audiences  of  the  Pope 
in  the  grand  hall  of  the  museum.  —  The  author  is  present  at  one  of  these 
receptions. — The  blessing  of  the  Pope.  —  The  sovereign  pontiff  and  the 
little  children.  —  Costume  of  the  Holy  Father.  —  The  Pope  and  the 
Countess  deGenlis.  —  The  sellers  of  beads.  —  The  2d  of  December,  1804. 

—  Confusion  in  the  chateau  of  the  Tuileries.  —  Awaking  and  toilet  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Furnishers  of  his  wardrobe,  and  his  maledictions.  —  Costume 
of  the  Emperor  on  the  day  of  his  coronation.  —  Constant  performing  one 
of  the  duties  of  the  first  chamberlain. — The  coronation  cloak  and  the 
grenadier  uniform.  —  Jewels  of  the  Empress.  — Crown,  diadem,  and  gir- 
dle of  the  Empress.  — The  coronation  scepter,  hand  of  justice,  and  sword. 

—  Messieurs  Marguerite,  Odiot,  and  Biennais,  jewelers.  —  The  Pope's 
carriage. — The  first  chamberlain  and  his  horse. — Coronation  carriage. 

—  Singular    mistake    of    their   Majesties.  —  Coronation    cortege. — Reli- 
gious ceremony.  —  Music  at  the  coronation.  —  Monsieur  Lesueur  and  the 
Boulogne  march.  —  Josephine  crowned  by  the  Emperor.  —  Glance  of  in- 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  25 

telligence.  —  Coronation,  and  the  idea  of  divorce.  —  Chagrin  of  the  Em- 
peror, and  its  cause.  —  Coronation  oath.  —  The  archbishop's  gallery. — 
Throne  of  their  Majesties.  —  Illuminations.  —  Donations  made  by  the 
Emperor  to  the  church  of  Notre  Dame.  —  The  scourge  and  tunic  of  St. 
Louis.  —  The  Emperor's  coronation  medals.  —  Public  rejoicings. 

Pages  294-307. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Ceremonies  accompanying  the  distribution  of  the  eagles. — The  Emperor's 
address. — The  oath.  —  The  grand  review  in  the  rain.  —  Banquet  at  the 
Tuileries.  —  Panegyric  on  conscription  made  by  the  Emperor.  —  Grand 
receptions.  —  Fete  at  the  Hotel  do  Villo  in  Paris. — Well-regulated  dis- 
tribution of  provisions.  —  The  vessel  of  fire.  —  Passage  of  Mt.  St.  Ber- 
nard in  a  blaze  of  light.  —  Gold  toilet-set  presented  to  their  Majesties  by 
the  city  of  Paris.  —  Monsieur  Garnerin's  balloon.  —  Curious  incident.  — 
Voyage  through  the  air  from  Paris  to  Rome  in  twenty-four  hours.  — 
Monsieur  Garnerin's  note  and  Cardinal  Caprara's  letter. — The  boatman 
and  the  floating  house.  —  Fifteen  leagues  an  hour.  —  The  balloon  ascen- 
sion. —  Bravery  of  two  women.  — Gratuities  granted  by  the  city  of  Paris.  — 
Kindness  of  the  Emperor  and  his  brother  Louis.  —  Pardon  granted  by  the 
Emperor.  —  Statue  erected  to  the  Emperor  in  the  hall  of  the  Corps-Legis- 
latif .  —  The  Empress  Josephine  and  the  chorus  of  Gliick.  —  Happy  coin- 
cidence. —  The  statue  unveiled  by  Marshals  Murat  and  Massena.  — 
Selection  from  an  eulogium  on  the  Emperor  pronounced  by  M.  de  Vau- 
blanc.  —  The  bouquet  and  the  ball.  —  Profusion  of  flowers  in  the  month 
of  January Pages  30&-321. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

My  marriage  to  Mademoiselle  Charvet.  —  Presentation  to  Madame  Bonaparte. 
—  General  Bonaparte  opens  letters  addressed  to  his  courier. — General 
Bonaparte  wishes  to  see  Monsieur  and  Madame  Charvet.  —  Monsieur 
Charvet  follows  Madame  Bonaparte  to  Plombieres.  —  Establishment  of 
Monsieur  Charvet  and  his  family  at  Malmaison.  —  Madame  Charvet 
private  secretary  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  — Mademoiselles  Louise  and  Zoe' 
Charvet  favorites  of  Josephine.  —  Phantasmagoria  at  Malmaison. — 
Amusements  of  Bonaparte  and  the  ladies  of  Malmaison. — M.  Charvet 
leaves  the  house  for  the  chateau  of  Saint-Cloud. — The  former  porters 
and  scrubbers  of  the  queen  are  given  places.  —  Burning  of  the  chateau, 
and  death  of  Madame  Charvet.  —  The  Empress  wishes  to  see  Mademoi- 
selle Charvet.  —  She  will  be  a  mother  to  her,  and  give  her  a  husband.  — 
The  Empress  complains  to  M.  Charvet  of  not  seeing  his  daughters.  —  A 
dowry  is  promised  to  my  wife. — Money  wasted  and  promises  forgotten  by 
the  Empress  Josephine.  —  The  Empress  gives  my  sister-in-law  in  mar- 
riage.—  Very  kind  recommendation  of  the  Empress. — My  sister-in-law, 


26  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Mademoiselle  Josephine  Tallien,  and  Mademoiselle  Clemence  Cabarus. — 
Madame  Vigogne  and  the  protegees  of  the  Empress.  —  The  young  pupil 
in  danger  of  being  burned.  —  Madame  Vigogne's  presence  of  mind. — 
Visit  to  the  Empress Pages  322-328. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Description  of  the  Empress  Josephine.  — Awaking  of  the  Empress.  —  Details 
of  her  toilet.  —  Audiences  of  the  Empress.  —  Reception  of  the  furnishers. 

—  Breakfast  of  the  Empress. — Madame  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  first  lady 
of  honor.  —  The  Empress  plays  billiards.  —  Promenades  in  the  private 
park. — The  Empress  with  her  ladies.  —  The  Emperor  coming  to  surprise 
the  Empress  in  the  saloon.  —  Dinner  of  the  Empress.  —  The  Emperor 
keeps  it  waiting.  —  The  princes  and  ministers  at  the  Emperor's  table.  — 
The  Empress   and  M.  de  Beaumont. — Game    of   backgammon. — The 
Empress  one  day  at  the  chase.  —  All  the  ladies  at  their  Majesties'  table.  — 
The  Empress  comes  to  pass  the  night  with  the  Emperor.  —  Details  of  the 
awaking  of  the  august  spouses.  —  Fondness  of  the  Empress  for  jewelry. 

—  Anecdote  concerning  the  first  marriage  of  the  Empress.  — Madame  do 
Beauharnais'  pockets. — The  Empress  Josephine's  jewels.  —  The  jewel- 
case  of  Marie  Antoinette  too  small  to  hold  Josephine's  jewels.  —  The  Em- 
press's remarkable  memory.  —  The  Empress  restores  harmony  between 
the  Emperor  and  his  brothers.  —  The  Empress's  kindness  to  her  valet  de 
chambre.  —  Harshness  of  the  Emperor;  he  wished  to  send  awayM.  Frere. 

—  The  valet  de  chambre  restored  to  favor.  —  Forgets  a  kindness  shown. 

—  Generosity  of  the  Empress.  —  How  the  valets  of  the  Empress  employ 
their  time.  —  Anecdote  concerning  a  daughter  of  M.  de  Beauharnais,  first 
husband  of  Josephine.  — The  Empress  marries  her  to  a  prefect  of  the  em- 
pire.—  Devotion  of  the  Empress  to  Eugene  and.  Hortense. — Anecdote 
concerning  the  vice-queen  (Amelia  of  Bavaria).  — The  family  portrait. — 
The  Empress  sends  for  me  to  see  this  portrait.  —  Love  of  Josephine  for  her 
grandchildren.  —  A  word  concerning  the  divorce.  —  Letter  of  Prince  Eu- 
gene to  his  wife. — My  trips  to  Malmaison  after  the  divorce.  —  Messages 
of  the  Emperor  to  the  Empress  Josephine.  —  My  adieux  to  the  Empress. 

—  Recommendations  of  that  Princess.  —  The  Empress  desires  to  see  the 
Emperor.  —  Visit  to  Josephine  before  the  campaign  of  Russia.  —  Visit 
to  the  Empress  after  this  campaign.  —  Letters  committed  to  me.  —  Con- 
versation with  the  Empress.  —  My  wife  goes  to  see  the  Empress,  and 
shows  her  my  letters.  —  Items  of  the  Empress's  expenses  after  the  di- 
vorce.—  Council  presided  over  by  the  Empress  in  a  linen  dress. — The 
Empress  imposed  upon  by  the  merchants.  —  Politeness  of  the  Empress. 

—  Manner  in  which  Josephine  punished  her  ladies.  —  Quantity  of  valua- 
ble articles  belonging  to  the  Empress. — Distribution  among  her  chil- 
dren and  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  Emperor. — M.  Denon.  —  The 
cabinet  of  antiques  at  Malmaisou.  —  M.  Denon  and  the  collection  of 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  27 

medals  belonging  to  the  Empress.  —  Visit  of  the  Empress  to  the  Em- 
peror while  I  was  dressing  him.  —  The  infant  and  the  petition.  —  The 
orphan  girl  rescued  from  the  Seine.  — M.  Fahien  Fillet  and  his  wife  at 
the  residence  of  the  Empress.  —  Touching  scene  .  .  .  Pages  32!)-34G. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

General  Junot  appointed  ambassador  to  Portugal.  — Anecdote  about  this 
general.  —  Powder  and  the  titus. — The  complainant  still  rebellious,  and 
Junot  performs  the  office  of  barber. — Junot's  fits  of  rage.  —  Junot, 
while  Governor  of  Paris,  beats  the  employees  of  a  playhouse.  —  The 
Emperor  reprimands  him  in  terms  which  bear  a  sad  prediction.  — 
Junot's  skill  with  the  pistol. — The  pipe  cut  in  two,  etc. — The  beau- 
tiful Louise,  mistress  of  Junot.  —  The  femme  de  chambre  of  Madame 
Bonaparte  rivals  her  mistress.  —  Indulgence  of  Josephine.  —  Brutality 
of  an  English  jockey.  —  Napoleon,  King  of  Italy.  —  Second  journey 
of  Constant  to  Lombardy.  —  Contrast  between  this  journey  and  the 
first.  —  Baptism  of  Prince  Louis's  second  son.  —  The  three  sons  of  Hor- 
tense  godsons  of  the  Emperor. — The  Empress  always  wishes  to  fol- 
low the  Emperor  in  his  travels. — Anecdote  on  this  subject.  —  The  Em- 
peror obliged,  against  his  will,  to  take  the  Empress  along. — Josephine 
half-dressed  in  the  Emperor's  carriage.  —  Sojourn  of  the  Emperor  at  Bri- 
enne. — Mesdames  de  Brienne  and  de  Lomenie.  —  Souvenirs  of  the  Em- 
peror's childhood. — The  dinner,  whist,  etc.  —  The  field  of  la  Rothiere. — 
The  Emperor  takes  pleasure  in  giving  the  name  of  each  locality.  —  The 
peasant  of  Brienne  and  the  Emperor. — Mother  Marguerite. — The  Em- 
peror makes  her  a  visit,  talks  with  her,  and  invites  her  to  breakfast.  — 
Scene  of  good-will  and  happiness.  —  New  anecdote  about  the  Duke 
d'Abrantes.  —  Junot  and  his  old  schoolmaster.  —  The  Emperor  and  his 
old  teacher. — Gifts  of  the  Emperor  to  Brienne. — He  passes  through 
Troyes.  —  Distress  of  the  widow  of  a  general  officer  of  the  old  regime.  — 
The  Emperor  grants  this  lady  a  pension  of  a  thousand  crowns.  —  Stay  at 
Lyons. — Delicate,  but  not  disinterested,  attentions  of  Cardinal  Fesch.  — 
Generosity  of  his  Eminence  well  repaid.  —  Passage  of  Mont  Cenis. — 
Sedan  chairs  for  their  Majesties.  —  Halt  at  the  Hospice.  —  Donations 
made  by  the  Emperor  to  the  monks. — Stay  at  Stupinigi.  —  The  Pope's 
visit.  —  Presents  of  their  Majesties  to  the  Pope  and  the  Roman  Cardinals. 
—  Arrival  at  Alexandria.  —  Review  on  the  plain  of  Marengo.  —  The  coat 
and  hat  worn  at  Marengo. — The  costume  of  the  Emperor  at  Marengo 
lent  to  David  for  one  of  his  pictures.  —  Description  of  the  review.  — 
The  name  of  General  Desaix.  —  Sad  and  glorious  memories. — Interview 
of  the  Emperor  with  Prince  Jerome.  —  Cause  of  the  Emperor's  displeas- 
ure.—  Jerome  and  Miss  Patterson.  —  Prince  Jerome  goes  to  deliver  the 
Genoese  prisoners  at  Algiers.  —  Affection  of  Napoleon  for  Jerome. 

Pages  347-3G2. 


28  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

The  Emperor's  stay  at  Milan. — Employment  of  his  time.  —  Prince  Eugene 
viceroy  of  Italy.  —  Breakfast  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress  on  the  Island 
of  Olona.  —  Visit  to  the  cottage  of  a  poor  woman.  —  Conversation  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Four  happy  people.  —  Annexation  of  the  Ligurian  Republic 
to  the  French  Empire.  —  Three  new  departments  in  the  kingdom  of 
Italy.  —  Journey  of  the  Emperor  to  Genoa.  —  Senator  Lucien  at  the  resi- 
dence of  his  hrother.  —  The  Emperor  wishes  to  make  his  brother  get  a 
divorce.  —  Reply  of  Lucien. — Anger  of  the  Emperor. — Agitation  of 
Lucien. — Lucien  sets  out  again  for  Rome. — Silence  of  the  Emperor  on 
retiring.  —  The  true  cause  of  the  disagreement  between  the  Emperor  and 
his  brother  Lucien.  — Details  of  the  first  quarrels  of  the  two  brothers. — 
Bold  reply  of  Lucien.  —  The  Emperor  breaks  his  watch  under  his  feet.  — 
Conduct  of  Lucien  while  Minister  of  the  Interior.  — Wheat  passes  the 
Straits  of  Calais. — Twenty  millions  of  profit,  and  the  Spanish  Embassy. 

—  Reception  of  Lucien  at  Madrid.  —  Understanding  between  the  Prince 
de  la  Paix  and  Lucien.  —  Thirty  millions  for  two  plenipotentiaries.  — 
Friendship  of  Charles  IV.  for  Lucien.  —  The  King  of  Spain  envies  the 
good  fortune  of  his  first  groom. — Love  of  Lucien  for  a  princess. — The 
portrait,  and  the  hair  chain. — The  hat-buckle  of  Lucien's  second  wife. — 
Details  concerning  the  first  marriage  of  Lucien,  related  by  a  person  in 
the  same  house. — Spies.  —  The  mayor  of  the  tenth  arrondissement,  and 
the  register  of  the  civil  status.  —  Marriage  prevented.  —  A  hundred  post- 
horses  engaged,   and   departure   for   Plessis-Chamant.  —  The    assistant 
cur€. — The  cur€  conducted  from  one  police  band  to  another. — Arrival 
of  the  curt  at  the  Tuileries.  —  The  curt  in  the  First  Consul's  cabinet.  — 
More  frightened  than  hurt.  —  Conversation  between  the  agent  of  M. 
Lucien  and  his  secretary  on  the  day  of  the  proclamation  of  the  French 
Empire.  —  Details  of  the  enmity  between  Lucieu  and  Madame  Bonaparte. 
— Love  of  Lucien  for  Mademoiselle  Meseray. — Generosity  of  Count  Lucien. 

—  Disgust  of  the  count;  he  does  not  wish  to  lose  all.  — Fatal  present. — 
Foolish  contract.  —  One  word  as  to  our  sojourn  at  Genoa. — Fetes  given 
to  the  Emperor. — Departure  from  Turin  for  Fontainebleau.  —  The  old 
woman  of  Tarare.  —  Anecdote  related  by  Doctor  Corvisart. 

Pages  363-375. 
CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Sojourn  at  Munich  and  Stuttgart.  —  Marriage  of  Prince  Eugene  to  the  Prin- 
cess Augusta  Amelia  of  Bavaria.  —  Fetes.  —  Mutual  affection  of  the 
Vice-King  and  Queen. — How  the  Vice-King  reared  his  children. — An 
incident  in  the  childhood  of  her  Majesty  the  present  Empress  of  Brazil. 

—  Sketch  of  the  late  King  of  Bavaria,  Maximilian  Joseph. — Incidents 
of  his  former  service  at  Strasburg  as  colonel  in  the  service  of  France. 

—  Love  of  the  Bavarians  for  that  excellent  Prince. — Devotion  of  the 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  29 

King  of  Bavaria  to  Napoleon.  —  The  hand  of  Constant  in  a  royal  hand. 

—  Contrast  between  the  destiny  of  the  King  of  Bavaria  and  that  of  the 
Emperor.  —  The  two  tombs.  —  Description  of  the  Prince  Royal,  now  the 
King  of  Bavaria.  —  Deafness  and  stammering. — Gravity  and  love  of 
study.  —  Opposition  of  the  Prince  Royal  to  the  Emperor.  — Visit  of  Prince 
Louis  (of  Bavaria)  to  Paris.  — Slumber  of  this  prince  at  the  theater,  and 
the  siesta  of  the  arch-chancelor  of  the  Empire.  —  Sketch  of  the  King  of 
Wiirternberg. —  His  enormous  stoutness. — His  position  at  table. — His 
passion  for  hunting. — Difficult  to  find  a  suitable  horse  for  him.  —  How 
they  trained  the  king's  horses  to  carry  the  enormous  weight  of  their  mas- 
ter.— Excessive  harshness  of  the  King  of  Wiirtemberg.  —  Singular  de- 
tails on  this  subject.  — Fidelity  shown  by  this  monarch.  —  Luxury  of  the 
King  of  Wiirtemberg.  —  The  Prince  Royal  of  Wiirtemberg.  — The  Prince 
Primate.  —  Out-of-date  toilets  and  German  princesses. — Their  coaches 
and  hoop-skirts.  —  The  journals  of  fashion x  French.  — Miserable  coaches. 

—  Sketch  of  the  Prince  of   Saxe-Gotha.  —  Coquetry  of  this  ci-devant 
young  man.  — Michalon,  the  hair-dresser,  and  wigs  a  la  Cupid.  — Extrava- 
gant toilette  of  a  princess  of  the  Confederation  at  a  court  theater.  —  Ma- 
dame Cunegonde. — The  Empress  Josephine  is  reminded  of  Candide. — 
Prince  Murat,  Grand  Duke  of  Berg  and  Cleves.  —  Prince  Charles  Louis 
Frederic  of  Baden  comes  to  Paris  to  marry  a  niece  of  the  Empress  Jose- 
phine.—  Sketch  of  this  prince.  —  The  wedding-night.  —  Vigorous  resis- 
tance.—  Consideration  of  her  good  husband. — The  queue  sacrificed. — 
Reconciliation  and  a  happy  household.  —  The  Grand  Duke  of  Baden  at 
Erfurt.  —  The  Emperor  of  Alexander  excites  his  jealousy.  —  Illness  and 
death  of  the  Grand  Duke  of  Baden.  —  A  word  as  to  his  family.  —  The 
Grand  Duchess  devotes  herself  to  the  education  of  her  daughters.  — 
Fetes,   hunting,   etc.  —  Gravity  of  the  Turkish  ambassador  during  an 
imperial  hunt.  —  He  refuses  the  honor  of  firing  the  first  shot. 

Pages  376-385. 
CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Coalition  of  Russia  and  England  against  the  Emperor.  —  Army  of  Boulogne 
on  the  march  towards  the  Rhine.  —  Departure  of  the  Emperor.  —  Picture 
of  the  interior  of  the  Tuileries  before  and  after  the  departure  of  the  Em- 
peror for  the  army.  —  The  civil  courtiers,  and  the  day  without  a  sun.  — 
Arrival  of  the  Emperor  at  Strasburg,  and  passage  of  the  bridge  of  Kehl. 

—  The  rendezvous. — The  Emperor  in  a  drenching  rain.  —  The  coal- 
burner's  hat.  —  Generals  Chardon  and  Vandamme. — The   rendezvous 
forgotten,  and  why.  — The  dozen  bottles  of  Rhine  wine. — Dissatisfaction 
of  the  Emperor.  —  General  Vandamme  sent  to  the  army  of  Wiirtem- 
berg.  —  Plis  brave  conduct  and  return  to  favor.  —  The  Emperor  precedes 
his  suite  and  baggage,  and  passes  the  night  in  a  cottage.  —  The  Emperor 
before  Ulm.  —  Combat  to  the  death.  — Personal  courage  and  coolness  of 
the  Emperor. — The  military  cloak  of  the  Emperor  serving  as  a  shroud 


30  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

for  a  veteran.  —  The  cannoneer  wounded  unto  death.  — The  surrender  of 
Ulm.  —  Thirty  thousand  men  lay  down  their  arms  at  the  feet  of  the 
Emperor. — Entrance  of  the  Imperial  Guard  into  Augsburg. — Passage 
through  Munich.  —  Oath  of  mutual  alliance  taken  by  the  Emperor  of 
Russia  and  the  King  of  Prussia  upon  the  tomb  of  Frederick  the  Great. 
—  Reconciliations.  —  Arrival  of  the  Russians.  —  The  coronation  and  the 
battle  of  Austerlitz.  —  The  Emperor  in  the  bivouac.  —  The  Emperor's 
slumbers. — Visit  to  the  advance  posts.  —  Military  illuminations. — The 
Emperor  and  his  soldiers. — Bivouac  of  his  attendants.  — I  make  punch 
for  the  Emperor.  —  I  am  overcome  with  fatigue,  and  sleep.  — The  awak- 
ening of  an  army. — Battle  of  Austerlitz.  —  General  Rapp  is  wounded, 
and  the  Emperor  goes  to  see  him. — The  Emperor  of  Austria  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon.  —  Treaty  of  peace.  —  Sojourn 
at  Vienna  and  Schoenbrunn.  —  Singular  meeting.  —  Napoleon  and  the 
daughter  of  M.  de  Marboauf .  —  The  courier  Moustache  sent  to  the  Em- 
press Josephine.  —  Reward  worthy  of  an  Empress. — Zeal  and  courage 
of  Moustache.  —  His  horse  falls  dead  from  fatigue  .  .  .  Pages  386-396. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

The  Emperor  returns  to  Paris.  —  Adventure  while  ascending  the  hill  of 
Meaux. — A  young  girl  throws  herself  into  the  Emperor's  carriage. — 
Rude  we.lcome,  and  pardon  refused.  —  I  recognize  Mademoiselle 
Lajolais.  —  General  Lajolais  twice  accused  of  conspiracy.  — Arrest  of  his 
wife  and  daughter. — Excessive  severity  towards  Madame  Lajolais. — 
Extraordinary  fortitude  of  Mademoiselle  Lajolais.  —  She  goes  alone  to 
Saint-Cloud,  and  applies  to  me. — I  lay  her  petition  before  her  Majesty 
the  Empress.  —  Fears  of  Josephine.  —  Josephine  and  Hortense  have  Ma- 
demoiselle Lajolais  placed  in  the  way  of  his  Majesty  the  Emperor.  — 
Attentions  and  kindness  of  the  two  princesses.  — Unshaken  constancy  of 
a  child. — Mademoiselle  Lajolais  in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor. — 
Heartrending  scene.  —  Harshness  of  the  Emperor.  — A  pardon  forced.  — 
She  faints.  —  Attentions  paid  Mademoiselle  Lajolais  by  the  Emperor. 
—  Generals  "Wolff  and  Lavalette  escort  her  to  her  father.  —  Interview 
between  General  Lajolais  and  his  daughter.  — Mile.  Lajolais  also  obtains 
her  mother's  pardon.  —  She  joins  the  Breton  ladies  in  soliciting  the 
pardon  of  the  companions  of  Georges.  —  Execution  delayed.  —  Fruitless 
efforts.  —  Warning  from  the  author.  —  Young  Destrem  asks  and  obtains 
the  pardon  of  his  father. — A  useless  pardon.  — The  Emperor  passes  by 
Saint-Cloud  on  his  return  from  Austerlitz. — Monsieur  Barre,  Mayor  of 
Saint-Cloud.  —  The  arch  barred  and  the  most  somnolent  of  the  com- 
munes. —  Prince  Talleyrand  and  the  beds  of  Saint-Cloud.  —  Singular 
caprice  of  the  Emperor.  —  Small  revolution  at  the  chateau.  — Manias  of 
sovereigns  are  epidemic Pages  397-407. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  31 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Secret  liaisons  of  the  Emperor.  —  What  is,  in  the  Emperor's  opinion,  the 
conduct  of  a  moral  man. — What  Napoleon  understood  by  immorality. 

—  Temptations  of  sovereigns.  —  Discretion  of  the  Emperor.  —  Jealousy 
of  Josephine. — Madame  Gazani. — Rendezvous  in  Bourrienne's  former 
apartment.  —  The  Emperor  tete-a-tete  with  a  minister.  —  Suspicions  and 
agitation  of  the  Empress. — My  duty  forces  me  to  lie.  —  The  Empress 
telling  to  my  cost  a  falsehood  in  order  to  learn  the  truth.  —  Jocose  repri- 
mand addressed  on  my  account  by  the  Emperor  to  the  Empress. — I  am 
justified.  —  Temporary  sulking. — Duration  of  the  liaison  of  the  Em- 
peror with  Madame  Gazani.  —  Madame  de  Remusat,  lady  of  honor  of 
the  Empress.  —  Nocturnal   expedition    of    Josephine  and    Madame  de 
Re'musat.  —  Formidable  snoring.  —  Panic  terror  and  precipitate  flight.  — 
Tears  and  mad  laughter.  —  The  allee  des  Veuves. — The  Emperor's  suc- 
cess witli  women.  —  Prince  Murat  and  I  await  him  at  the  door  of . 

—  Anxiety    of    Murat. — Imperial    speech    of  Napoleon.  —  The  official 
purveyors.  —  I  am  solicited  by  certain  ladies. — My  repugnance  to  secret 
undertakings.  —  Former  duties  of   the  first  valet  not  all  restored  by 
the  Emperor.  —  Complaisance  of  a  general.  —  Refusal  of  a  lady  after 
her  marriage.  —  Mademoiselle  E ,  reader  of  Princess  Murat.  —  De- 
scription   of    Mademoiselle  E .  —  Intrigue  against  the  Empress.  — 

Interviews  at  the  Tuileries,  and  what  was  the  result.  —  Birth   of  an 

Imperial    child.  —  Education    of    this  child. — Mademoiselle    E at 

Fontainebleau.  — Displeasure  of  the  Emperor.  —  Harshness  towards  the 
mother,  and  tenderness  to  the  son. — The  three  sons  of  Napoleon. — 
Distractions  of  the  Emperor  at  Boulogne.  —  The  beautiful  Italian.  — 
Discovery  a:id  proposition  of  Murat. — Mademoiselle  L.  B.  —  Shameful 
speculation.  —  The  ballet  dance.  —  Sallow  complexion.  —  Ogling  to  no  pur- 
pose.—  Visit  to  Mademoiselle  Le  Normand.  —  Silence  of  Mademoiselle 
L.  B.  as  to  the  predictions  of  the  fortune-teller.  —  Credulity  justified  by 
the  occurrence  of  the  predicted  event.  —  Trifles  ....  Pages  408-418. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

The  thrones  of  the  imperial  family.  —  Rupture  of  the  treaty  with  Russia.  — 
The  Queen  of  Prussia  and  the  Duke  of  Brunswick.  —  Departure  from 
Paris.  — One  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men  dispersed  in  a  few  days.  — 
Death  of  Prince  Louis  of  Prussia.  —  Guinde  quartermaster  of  the  Tenth 
Hussars.  —  Constant's  carriage  upset  on  the  road.  —  Readiness  of  the  sol- 
diers to  assist  him. — The  hat  and  chief  valet  of  the  Little  Corporal. — 
Arrival  of  the  Emperor  upon  the  plateau  of  Weimar.  —  Road  cut  in  the 
living  rock.  —  The  Emperor  in  danger  of  death.  —  The  Emperor  extended 
on  the  ground.  —  Compliment  of  the  Emperor  to  the  soldier  who  failed 
to  kill  him.  —  Fruits  of  the  Battle  of  Jena.  —  Death  of  General  Schmet- 


32  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

tau  and  of  the  Duke  of  Brunswick.  —  Flight  of  the  King  and  Queen  of 
Prussia.  —  The  Amazon  Queen  passing  her  army  in  review.  —  The  Queen's 
costume.  —  The  Queen  pursued  by  French  hussars.  —  Enthusiasm  and 
speeches  of  the  soldiers.  —  Klein's  dragoons.  —  The  soldiers  who  had  pur- 
sued the  Queen  of  Prussia  reprimanded  and  rewarded  by  the  Emperor.  — 
Clemency  to  the  Duke  of  Weimar. — Constant's  bed  under  the  Emper- 
or's tent.  — Constant  shares  his  bed  with  the  King  of  Naples.  — A  night 
passed  by  the  Emperor  and  Constant  on  the  campaign.  —  Broken  slum- 
bers. —  The  aides-de-camp.  —  The  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  —  Breakfast.  — 
Horseback-ride.  —  Roustan  and  the  brandy-flask.  —  Abstinence  of  the 
Emperor  in  the  army.  —  A  little  crust  and  a  glass  of  wine.  —  Intrepidity 
of  the  cook.  —  Visit  to  the  field  of  battle.  —  The  Emperor  overcome  with 
fatigue.  —  Agreeable  awaking  of  the  Emperor.  —  His  facility  in  falling 
asleep  again.  —  Special  work  of  the  Emperor  on  the  eve  of  the  battle.  — 
The  maps  and  pins.  —  Activity  of  the  attendants  on  the  campaign,  and 
while  traveling.  —  Promptness  of  the  preparations.  —  A  hospital  changed 
into  a  lodging  for  the  Emperor.  —  Corpses,  amputated  limbs,  etc.,  taken 
away  in  a  few  moments.  —  The  Emperor  sleeping  on  the  field  of  battle.  — 
En  route  for  Potsdam.  —  Storm.  —  Meeting  with  an  Egyptian  woman, 
widow  of  a  French  officer.  —  Gift  of  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor  at 
Potsdam.  —  The  relics  of  Frederick  the  Great.  —  Charlottenberg.  —  Toilet 
of  the  army  before  entering  Berlin.  —  Entry  of  Berlin.  —  The  Em- 
peror  causing  military  honors  to  be  rendered  to  the  bust  of  Frederick 
the  Great.  —The  growlers.  —  The  Emperor's  respect  for  the  sister  of  the 
King  of  Prussia Pages  411M31. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


NAPOLEON  AT  MALMAISON Frontispiece. 

PRINCE  EUGKNE Facing  Page    41 

JOSEPHINE 97 

NEY "           145 

DAVOUST "           185 

BEBTHIER "           249 

MACDONALD "           309 

AUGEKEAU    .                                      "           377 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Birth  of  the  author.  —  His  father,  his  relatives. — His  early  patrons.  —  Emi- 
gration and  abandonment.  —  The  suspect  at  12  years  of  age.  —  Aldermen  or 
imbeciles. —  Thechief  of  squadron,  Michau. — Gobert. —  Carrat. —  Madame 
Bonaparte  and  her  daughter.  —  Bouquets  and  sentimental  scene.  — Econ- 
omy of  Carrat  regarding  others  and  liberality  towards  himself.  —  Cow- 
ardice.—  Frolicsome  tricks  of  Madame  Bonaparte  and  Hor tense.  —  The 
ghost.  — The  nocturnal  shower-bath.  — The  downfall.  —  The  author  enters 
the  service  of  Eugene  de  Beauharnais. 

I  SHALL  refer  to  myself  very  little  in  these  memoirs,  for 
I  am  aware  the  public  will  examine  them  only  for  details 
concerning  the  great  man  to  whom  fortune  attached  me  for 
sixteen  years,  and  whom  I  scarcely  quitted  during  the 
whole  of  that  time.  Notwithstanding,  I  ask  permission  to 
say  a  few  words  as  to  my  childhood,  and  the  circumstances 
which  made  me  valet  de  chambre  of  the  Emperor. 

I  was  born  Dec.  2,  1778,  at  Peruelz,  a  town  which 
became  French  on  the  annexation  of  Belgium  to  the 
Republic,  and  which  then  belonged  to  the  Department  of 
Jemmapes.  Soon  after  my  birth  at  the  baths  of  Saint- 
Amand,  my  father  took  charge  of  a  small  establishment 
called  the  Little  Chateau,  at  which  visitors  to  the  waters 
were  boarding,  being  aided  in  this  enterprise  by  the  Prince 
de  Croi,  in  whose  house  he  had  been  steward.  Business 

85 


36  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

prospered  beyond  my  father's  hopes,  for  a  great  numoer  of 
invalids  of  rank  came  to  his  house.  When  I  attained  my 
eleventh  year,  the  Count  de  Lure,  head  of  one  of  the 
chief  families  of  Valenciennes,  happened  to  be  one  of  the 
boarders  at  the  Little  Chateau ;  and  as  that  excellent  man 
had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  me,  he  asked  my  parents'  per- 
mission that  I  should  become  a  companion  to  his  son,  who 
was  about  the  same  age.  My  family  had  intended  me  for 
the  church,  to  gratify  one  of  my  uncles,  who  was  Dean 
of  Lessine,  a  man  of  great  wisdom  and  rigid  virtue ;  and 
thinking  that  the  offer  of  the  Count  de  Lure  would  not 
affect  my  intended  destination,  my  father  accepted  it,  judg- 
ing that  some  years  passed  in  a  family  so  distinguished 
would  give  me  a  taste  for  the  more  serious  studies  neces- 
sary to  fit  me  for  the  priesthood.  I  set  out,  therefore,  with 
the  Count  de  Lure,  much  grieved  at  leaving  my  parents, 
but  pleased  also  at  the  same  time,  as  is  usual  with  one  at 
my  age,  with  new  scenes.  The  count  took  me  to  one  of 
his  estates  near  Tours,  where  I  was  received  with  the 
greatest  kindness  by  the  countess  and  her  children,  with 
whom  I  was  placed  on  a  footing  of  perfect  equality. 

Unfortunately  I  did  not  profit  very  long  by  the  kind- 
ness of  the  count  and  the  lessons  I  was  taught  at  his  house, 
for  hardly  a  year  had  passed  at  the  chateau  when  we 
learned  of  the  arrest  of  the  king  at  Varennes.  The  count 
and  his  family  were  in  despair ;  and  child  as  I  was,  I  re- 
member that  I  was  deeply  pained  at  the  news,  without 
knowing  why,  but  doubtless  because  it  is  natural  to  share 
the  sentiments  of  those  with  whom  you  live,  when  they 
treat  you  with  as  much  kindness  as  the  count  and  countess 
had  treated  me.  However,  I  continued  to  enjoy  the  happy 


THE  SUSPECT  AT  TWELVE.  37 

freedom  from  care  natural  to  youth,  till  one  morning  I  was 
awakened  by  a  loud  noise,  and  was  immediately  surrounded 
by  a  great  number  of  people,  none  of  whom  I  knew,  and 
who  asked  me  countless  questions  which  I  could  not 
answer.  I  then  learned  that  the  count  and  his  family  had 
emigrated.  I  was  carried  to  the  town  hall,  where  the  same 
questions  were  renewed,  with  the  same  fruitless  result ;  for 
I  knew  nothing  of  the  intentions  of  my  late  protectors,  and 
could  only  reply  by  a  flood  of  tears  when  I  saw  myself 
abandoned  and  left  to  my  own  resources,  at  a  great  distance 
from  my  family. 

I  was  too  young  then  to  reflect  on  the  conduct  of  the 
count;  but  I  have  since  thought  that  his  abandonment  of 
me  was  an  act  of  delicacy  on  his  part,  as  he  did  not  wish 
to  make  me  an  emigre  without  the  consent  of  my  parents.1 
I  have  always  believed  that,  before  his  departure,  the  count 
had  committed  me  to  the  care  of  some  one,  who  subsequently 
did  not  dare  to  claim  me,  lest  he  should  compromise  him- 
self, which  was  then,  as  is  well  known,  exceedingly  dan- 
gerous. Behold  me,  then,  at  twelve  years  of  age,  left 
without  a  guide,  without  means  of  support,  without  any 
one  to  advise  me,  and  without  money,  more  than  a  hundred 
leagues  from  my  home,  and  already  accustomed  to  the  com- 
forts of  a  luxurious  life.  It  is  hardly  credible  that  in  this 
state  of  affairs  I  was  regarded  almost  as  a  suspect,  and  was 
required  each  day  to  present  myself  before  the  city  author- 
ities for  the  greater  safety  of  the  Republic.  I  remember 
well  that  whenever  the  Emperor  was  pleased  to  make  me 

1  M.  Constant  was  indeed  benevolent  in  wishing  to  assign  such  motive 
to  the  count.  Constant  was  a  Belgian,  and  his  country  was  not  annexed  to 
France  till  October,  1795,  nearly  four  years  and  a  half  later.  —  TJJANS. 


38  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

relate  these  tribulations  of  my  childhood,  he  never  failed  to 
repeat  several  times,  " the  fools"  referring  to  these  same 
city  authorities.  However  that  may  be,  the  authorities  of 
Tours,  coming  to  the  conclusion,  at  last,  that  a  child  of 
twelve  was  incapable  of  overthrowing  the  Republic,  gave 
me  a  passport,  with  the  injunction  to  leave  the  city  within 
twenty-four  hours,  which  I  proceeded  to  do  with  a  hearty 
good-will,  but  not  without  deep  grief  also  at  seeing  myself 
alone,  and  on  foot,  with  a  long  journey  before  me.  After 
much  privation  and  many  hardships  I  arrived  at  last  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Saint-Amand,  which  I  found  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Austrians,  and  that  it  was  impossible  for  me  to 
reach  the  town,  as  the  French  surrounded  it.  In  my  de- 
spair I  seated  myself  on  the  side  of  a  ditch  and  was  weep- 
ing bitterly,  when  I  was  noticed  by  the  chief  of  squadron, 
Michau,1  who  afterwards  became  colonel  and  aide-de-camp 
to  General  Loison.2  Michau  approached  me,  questioned 
me  with  great  interest,  and  made  me  relate  my  sad  adven- 
tures, which  touched  him  deeply,  while  he  did  not  conceal 
his  inability  to  send  me  back  to  my  family.  He  had  just 
obtained  leave  of  absence,  which  he  was  going  to  spend 
with  his  family  at  Chinon,  and  proposed  to  me  to  accom- 
pany him,  which  invitation  I  accepted  with  gratitude.  I 
cannot  say  too  much  of  the  kindness  and  consideration 
shown  me  by  his  household  during  the  three  or  four  months 
I  spent  with  them.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  took  me 
to  Paris,  where  I  was  soon  after  placed  in  the  house  of  M. 

1  I  afterwards  had  the  happiness  of  obtaining  for  him,  from  the  Emperor, 
a  position  he  wished,  as  a  place  of  retirement,  having  lost  the  use  of  his  right 
arm.  —  CONSTANT. 

2  One  of  the  most  rapacious  of  the  French  generals  in  Portugal,  born  in 
Lorraine,  1770.    Died  1816.— TRANS. 


MADAME  BONAPARTE  AND  HER  DAUGHTER.         39 

Gobert,  a  rich  merchant,  who  treated  me  with  the  greatest 
kindness. 

I  lately  visited  M.  Gobert ;  and  he  recalled  to  me  that, 
when  we  traveled  together,  he  gave  up  to  me  one  of  the 
seats  of  his  carriage,  upon  which  I  was  permitted  to  stretch 
myself  out  and  sleep.  I  mention  this  circumstance,  other- 
wise unimportant,  to  show  the  kindness  he  always  showed 
me. 

Some  years  later  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Carrat, 
who  was  in  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte  while  the 
general  was  absent  on  the  Egyptian  expedition.  Before 
relating  how  I  came  to  enter  her  household,  it  is  proper  to 
mention  how  Carrat  himself  came  into  her  service,  and  at 
the  same  time  narrate  some  anecdotes  in  regard  to  him, 
which  will  show  what  were  the  pastimes  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Malmaison  at  that  date. 

Carrat  happened  to  be  at  Plombieres  when  Madame 
Bonaparte1  went  there  to  take  the  waters.  Every  day  he 
brought  her  bouquets,  and  addressed  to  her  little  compli- 
mentary speeches,  so  singular  and  so  droll,  that  Josephine 
was  much  diverted,  as  were  also  the  ladies  who  accom- 
panied her,  among  whom  were  Mesdames  de  Cambis  and 
de  Crigny,2  and  especially  her  own  daughter  Hortense,  who 
was  convulsed  at  his  oddities.  The  truth  is,  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly amusing,  by  reason  of  a  certain  simplicity  and 


1  Madame  Bonaparte,  nte  Marie  Joseph  Rose  Tascher  de  la  Pagerie,  was 
born  in  Martinique,  1763 ;  became  the  widow  of  Viscount  Alexander  de  Beau- 
harnais,  1794;  married   Napoleon   Bonaparte  March,  1796;  became  Empress 
May  18,  1801;  was  divorced  Dec.  16,  1809;  died  at  Malmaison,  May  20,  1814. 
— TRANS. 

2  Madame  do  Crigny  has  since  become  Madame  Denon.  —  Note  by  CON- 
STANT. 


40  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

originality  of  character,  which,  however,  did  not  prevent 
him  from  being  a  person  of  intelligence ;  and  his  eccentrici- 
ties did  not  displease  Madame  Bonaparte.  A  sentimental 
scene  took  place  when  this  excellent  lady  left  the  springs. 
Carrat  wept,  bemoaned  himself,  and  expressed  his  lasting 
grief  at  not  being  able  to  see  Madame  Bonaparte  daily,  as 
he  had  been  accustomed;  and  Madame  Bonaparte  was  so 
kind-hearted  that  she  at  once  decided  to  carry  him  to  Paris 
with  her.  She  taught  him  to  dress  hair,  and  finally  ap- 
pointed him  her  hair-dresser  and  valet,  at  least  such  were 
the  duties  he  had  to  perform  when  I  made  his  acquaintance. 
He  was  permitted  a  most  astonishing  freedom  of  speech, 
sometimes  even  scolding  her ;  and  when  Madame  Bonaparte, 
who  was  extremely  generous  and  always  gracious  towards 
every  one,  made  presents  to  her  women,  or  chatted  famil- 
iarly with  them,  Carrat  would  reproach  her.  "  Why  give 
that?"  he  would  say,  adding,  "See  how  you  do,  Madame; 
you  allow  yourself  to  jest  with  your  domestics.  Some  day 
they  will  show  you  a  want  of  respect."  But  if  he  thus 
endeavored  to  restrain  the  generosity  of  his  mistress 
towards  those  around  her,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  stimulate 
»her  generosity  towards  himself;  and  whenever  he  took  a 
fancy  to  anything,  would  simply  say,  "  You  ought  to  give 
me  that." 

Bravery  is  not  always  the  inseparable  companion  of 
wit,  and  Carrat  gave  more  than  once  proof  of  this.  Being 
endowed  with  a  kind  of  simple  and  uncontrollable  poltroon- 
ery, which  never  fails  in  comedies  to  excite  the  laughter 
of  the  spectators,  it  was  a  great  pleasure  to  Madame  Bona- 
parte to  play  on  him  such  pranks  as  would  bring  out  his 
singular  want  of  courage. 


IPIRflNGIE  EUGENIE, 


TUE  GHOST.  41 

It  should  be  stated,  first  of  all,  that  one  of  the  great- 
est pleasures  of  Madame  Bonaparte,  at  Malmaison,  was  to 
take  walks  on  the  road  just  outside  the  walls  of  the  park ; 
and  she  always  preferred  this  outside  road,  in  spite  of  the 
clouds  of  dust  which  were  constantly  rising  there,  to  the 
delightful  walks  inside  the  park.  One  day,  accompanied 
by  her  daughter  Hortense,  she  told  Carrat  to  follow  her 
in  her  walk;  and  he  was  delighted  to  be  thus  honored  until 
he  saw  rise  suddenly  out  of  a  ditch ;  a  great  figure  covered 
with  a  white  sheet,  in  fact,  a  genuine  ghost,  such  as  I  have 
seen  described  in  the  translations  of  some  old  English 
romances. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say,  that  the  ghost  was  some  one 
placed  there  by  order  of  these  ladies,  in  order  to  frighten 
Carrat;  and  certainly  the  comedy  succeeded  marvelously 
well,  for  as  soon  as  Carrat  perceived  the  ghost,  he  was  very 
much  frightened,  and  clutching  Madame  Bonaparte,  said 
to  her  in  a  tremor,  "Madame,  Madame,  do  you  see  that 
ghost?  It  is  the  spirit  of  the  lady  who  died  lately  at 
Plombieres."  -  —  "  Be  quiet,  Carrat,  you  are  a  coward."  - 
"Ah,  but  indeed  it  is  her  spirit  which  has  come  back." 
As  Carrat  thus  spoke,-  the  man  in  the  white  sheet  ad- 
vanced toward  him,  shaking  it ;  and  poor  Carrat,  overcome 
with  terror,  fell  backwards  in  a  faint,  and  it  required  all 
the  attentions  which  were  bestowed  upon  him  to  restore 
him  to  consciousness. 

Another  day,  while  the  general  was  still  in  Egypt,  and 
consequently  before  I  was  in  the  service  of  any  member 
of  his  family,  Madame  Bonaparte  wished  to  give  some  of 
her  ladies  an  exhibition  of  Carrat's  cowardice ;  and  for  this 
purpose  there  was  concerted  among  the  ladies  of  Malmaison 


42  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

a  plot,  in  which  Madamoiselle  Hortense l  was  chief  conspir- 
ator. This  incident  has  been  so  often  narrated  in  ruy 
presence  by  Madame  Bonaparte,  that  I  am  familiar  with 
the  ludicrous  details.  Carrat  slept  in  a  room  adjoining 
which  there  was  a  closet.  A  hole  was  made  in  the  wall 
between  these  rooms,  and  a  string  passed  through,  at  the 
end  of  which  was  tied  a  can  filled  with  water,  this  cool- 
ing element  being  suspended  exactly  over  the  head  of  the 
patient's  bed.  This  was  not  all,  for  they  had  also  taken 
the  precaution  to  remove  the  slats  which  supported  the 
mattress ;  and  as  Carrat  was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  sleep 
without  a  light,  he  saw  neither  the  preparations  for  his 
downfall,  nor  the  can  of  water  provided  for  liis  new  bap- 
tism. All  the  members  of  the  plot  had  been  waiting  for 
some  moments  in  the  adjoining  closet ;  when  he  threw  him- 
self heavily  upon  his  bed,  it  crashed  in,  and  at  the  same 
instant  the  play  of  the  string  made  the  can  of  water  do  its 
effective  work.  The  victim  at  the  same  time  of  a  fall,  and 
of  a  nocturnal  shower-bath,  Carrat  cried  out  against  his 
double  misfortune.  "  This  is  horrible,"  he  yelled  at  the  top 
of  his  voice ;  while  Hortense  maliciously  said  aloud  to  her 
mother,  Madame  de  Crigny  (afterwards  Madame  Denon), 
Madame  Charvet,  and  to  several  others  in  the  room,  "  Oh, 
Mamma,  those  toads  and  frogs  in  the  water  will  get  on 
him."  These  words,  joined  to  the  utter  darkness,  served 
only  to  increase  the  terror  of  Carrat,  who,  becoming  seri- 
ously frightened,  cried  out,  "It  is  horrible,  Madame,  it  is 
horrible,  to  amuse  yourself  thus  at  the  expense  of  your 
servants." 

1  Hortense  Beauharnais,  born  at  Paris,  1783,  was  then  just  sixteen  years 
of  age.  Married  Louis  Bonaparte  and  became  Queen  of  Holland,  180G.  Died 
1837.  She  was  the  mother  of  Napolen  III.  —  TKANS. 


EUGENE  DE  BEAUHARNAIS.  43 

I  do  not  say  that  the  complaints  of  Carrat  were  entirely 
wrong,  but  they  served  only  to  increase  the  gayety  of  the 
ladies  who  had  taken  him  for  the  object  of  their  pleasantries. 

However  that  may  be,  such  was  the  character  and  posi- 
tion of  Carrat,  whom  I  had  known  for  some  time,  when 
General  Bonaparte  returned  from  his  expedition  into  Egypt, 
and  Carrat  said  to  me  that  Eugene  de  Beauharnais  had 
applied  to  him  for  a  confidential  valet,  his  own  having  been 
detained  in  Cairo  by  severe  illness  at  the  time  of  his  depar- 
ture. He  was  named  Lefebvre,  and  was  an  old  servant 
entirely  devoted  to  his  master,  as  was  every  one  who  knew 
Prince  Eugene;  for  I  do  not  believe  that  there  has  ever 
lived  a  better  man,  or  one  more  polite,  more  considerate,  or 
indeed  more  attentive,  to  those  who  served  him. 

Carrat  having  told  me  that  Eugene  de  Beauharnais l 
desired  a  young  man  to  replace  Lefebvre,  and  having  rec- 
ommended me  for  the  place,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be 
presented  to  Eugene,  and  to  give  satisfaction ;  indeed,  he  was 
so  kind  as  to  say  to  me  that  my  appearance  pleased  him, 
and  he  wished  me  to  enter  upon  my  duties  immediately.  I 
was  delighted  with  this  situation,  which,  I  know  not  why, 
painted  itself  to  my  imagination  in  the  brightest  colors, 
and  without  loss  of  time,  went  to  find  my  modest  baggage, 
and  behold  me  valet  de  chambre,  ad  interim,  of  M.  de  Beau- 
harnais, not  dreaming  that  I  should  one  day  be  admitted  to 
the  personal  service  of  General  Bonaparte,  and  still  less 
that  I  should  become  the  chief  valet  of  an  Emperor. 

1  Born  1781,  Viceroy  of  Italy  1805.  In  180G  married  the  daughter  of  the 
King  of  Bavaria.  Died  1824.  Among  his  descendants  are  the  present  King 
of  Sweden  and  the  late  Emperor  of  Brazil.  —  TRANS. 


44  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Prince  Eugene  apprenticed  to  a  carpenter.  —  Bonaparte  and  the  sword  of  the 
Marquis  de  Beauharnais.  —  First  meeting  of  Napoleon  and  Josephine.  — 
Appearance  and  character  of  Eugene.  —  Candor.  —  Kindness  of  heart. — 
Fond  of  amusements.  —  Breakfast  of  young  officers  and  artists.  —  Mysti- 
fications and  the  mystified.  —  Thiemet  and  Dugazon.  —  Stammerers  and 
baptism  of  ice-water.  —  The  former  valet  resumes  his  place.  —  Constant 
enters  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Pleased  with  his  new  position. 
— Recollections  of  the  18th  Brumaire.  —  Political  breakfasts.  —  The  Direc- 
tors in  charge.  —  Barras  in  Greek  costume.  —  Abbe  Sie'yes  on  horseback. 
—  The  rendezvous.  —  Mistake  of  Murat.  —  President  Gohier,  General 
Jube,  and  the  grand  maneuvers.  —  General  Marmont.  —  The  saloon  of 
Josephine.  —Talleyrand.  —  The  family  of  General  Bonaparte.  — M.  Vol- 
ney. — M.  Denon.  —  M.  Lemercier. — M.  de  Laigle.  —  General  Bournon- 
ville. — Horseback  ride. — Fall  of  Hortense.  —  Good  family  man.  —  The 
game  of  prisoners'  base.  — Bonaparte  not  always  conqueror.  —  Net  income 
of  Malmaison.  —  Improvements.  —  Theater  and  amateur  actors ;  Eugene, 
Jerome  Bonaparte,  Lauriston,  etc.,  Mademoiselle  Hortense,  Madame 
Murat,  the  two  young  ladies  Auguie.  —  Napoleon  a  simple  looker-on. 

IT  was  on  Oct.  16,  1799,  that  Eugene  de  Beauhar- 
nais arrived  in  Paris  on  his  return  from  Egypt ;  and  almost 
immediately  thereafter  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  taken 
into  his  service,  M.  Eugene  being  then  twenty-one l  years 
of  age.  I  soon  after  learned  a  few  particulars,  which  I 
think  are  little  known,  relative  to  his  former  life,  and  the 
marriage  of  his  mother  with  General  Bonaparte. 

His  father,  as  is  well  known,  was  one  of  the  victims  of 
the  Revolution ;  and  when  the  Marquis  de  Beauharnais  had 
perished  on  the  scaffold,  his  widow,  whose  property  had 

1  This  is  a  slight  inaccuracy.  He  was  born  Sept.  3,  1781,  and  hence  was 
nineteen  years  of  age.  —  TRANS. 


THE  MARQUIS  DE  BEAUHARNAIS'  SWORD.  45 

been  confiscated,  fearing  that  her  son,  although  still  very- 
young,  might  also  be  in  danger  on  account  of  his  belonging 
to  the  nobility,  placed  him  in  the  home  of  a  carpenter  on 
the  rue  de  1'Echelle  where  a  lady  of  my  acquaintance,  who 
lived  on  that  street,  has  often  seen  him  passing,  carrying  a 
plank  on  his  shoulder.  It  seems  a  long  distance  from  this 
position  to  the  colonelcy  of  a  regiment  of  the  Consular 
guards,  and  the  vice-royalty  of  Italy. 

I  learned,  from  hearing  Eugene  himself  relate  it,  by 
what  a  singular  circumstance  he  had  been  the  cause  of 
the  first  meeting  between  his  mother  and  his  step-father. 
Eugene,  being  then  not  more  than  fourteen  or  fifteen  years 
of  age,  having  been  informed  that  General  Bonaparte  had 
become  possessor  of  the  sword  of  the  Marquis  de  Beauhar- 
nais,  took  a  step  which  seemed  hazardous,  but  was  crowned 
with  success.  The  general  having  received  him  gra- 
ciously, Eugene  explained  that  he  came  to  beg  of  him 
the  restoration  of  his  father's  sword.  His  face,  his  bear- 
ing, his  frank  request,  all  made  such  a  pleasant  impression 
on  Bonaparte,  that  he  immediately  presented  him  with  the 
sword  which  he  requested.  As  soon  as  this  sword  was  in 
his  hands  he  covered  it  with  kisses  and  tears;  and  the 
whole  was  done  in  so  artless  a  manner,  that  Bonaparte 
was  delighted  with  him. 

Madame  de  Beauharnais,  being  informed  of  the  welcome 
the  general  had  given  her  son,  thought  it  her  duty  to  make 
him  a  visit  of  gratitude. 

.  Bonaparte,  being  much  pleased  with  Josephine  in  this 
first  interview,  returned  her  visit.  They  met  again  fre- 
quently; and  as  is  well  known,  one  event  led  to  another, 
until  she  became  the  first  Empress  of  the  French;  and  I 


46  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

can  assert  from  the  numerous  proofs  that  I  have  had  of  this 
fact,  that  Bonaparte  never  ceased  to  love  Eugene  as  well 
as  if  he  had  been  his  own  son. 

The  qualities  of  Eugene  were  both  attractive  and  solid. 
-His  features  were  not  regular,  and  yet  his  countenance  pre- 
possessed every  one  in  his  favor.  He  had  a  well-propor- 
tioned figure,  but  did  not  make  a  distinguished  appearance, 
on  account  of  the  habit  he  had  of  swinging  himself  as  he 
walked.  He  was  about  five  feet  three  or  four  inches l  in 
height.  He  was  kind,  gay,  amiable,  full  of  wit,  intelli- 
gent, generous;  and  it  might  well  be  said  that  his  frank 
and  open  countenance  was  the  mirror  of  his  soul.  How 
many  services  he  has  rendered  others  during  the  course 
of  his  life,  and  at  the  very  period  when  in  order  to  do  so 
he  had  often  to  impose  privations  on  himself ! 

It  will  soon  be  seen  how  it  happened  that  I  passed  only 
a  month  with  Eugene ;  but  during  this  short  space  of  time, 
I  recall  that,  while  fulfilling  scrupulously  his  duties  to  his 
mother  and  his  step-father,  he  was  much  addicted  to  the 
pleasures  so  natural  to  his  age  and  position.  One  of  his 
greatest  pleasures  was  entertaining  his  friends  at  break- 
fast ;  which  he  did  very  often.  This  amused  me  much  on 
account  of  the  comical  scenes  of  which  I  was  often  a  wit- 
ness. Besides  the  young  officers  of  Bonaparte's  staff,  his 
most  frequent  guests,  he  had  also  frequently  at  his  table  the 
ventriloquist  Thiemet,  Dugazon,2  Dazincourt,  and  Michau 
of  the  Theatre  Fran9ais,  and  a  few  other  persons,  whose 


1  About  five  feet  six  or  seven  inches  in  English  measurement.  —  TRANS. 

2  J.  B.  H.  Gougault,  stage  name  Dugazon,  was  a  comic  actor  and  dra- 
matic author  born  at  Marseilles,  1741,  died  1809.    His  wife,  Rosalie,  was  a 
celebrated  actress  at  the  Ope"ra  Comique.— TBANS. 


TIIIEMET  AND  DUGAZON.  47 

names  escape  me  at  this  moment.  As  may  be  imagined, 
these  reunions  were  extremely  gay;  these  young  officers 
especially,  who  had  returned  like  Eugene  from  the  expe- 
dition to  Egypt,  seemed  trying  to  indemnify  themselves 
for  the  recent  privations  they  had  had  to  suffer.  At  this 
time  ventriloquists,  among  whom  Thiemet  held  a  very  dis- 
tinguished position,  were  the  fashion  in  Paris,  and  were 
invited  to  private  gatherings.  I  remember  on  one  occa- 
sion, at  one  of  these  breakfasts  of  Eugene's,  Thiemet 
called  by  their  names  several  persons  present,  imitating 
the  voices  of  their  servants,  as  if  they  were  just  outside 
the  door,  while  he  remained  quietly  in  his  seat,  appearing 
to  be  using  his  lips  only  to  eat  and  drink,  two  duties 
which  he  performed  admirably.  Each  of  the  officers 
called  in  this  manner  went  out,  and  found  no  one;  and 
then  Thidmet  went  out  with  them,  under  the  pretext  of 
assisting  them  in  the  search,  and  increased  their  perplexity 
by  continuing  to  make  them  hear  some  well-known  voice. 
Most  of  them  laughed  heartily  at  the  joke  of  which  they 
had  just  been  the  victims ;  but  there  was  one  who,  having 
himself  less  under  control  than  his  comrades,  took  the 
thing  seriously,  and  became  very  angry,  whereupon  Eugene 
had  to  avow  that  he  was  the  author  of  the  conspiracy. 

I  recall  still  another  amusing  scene,  the  two  heroes  of 
which  were  this  same  Thiemet,  of  whom  I  have  just  spoken, 
and  Dugazon.  Several  foreigners  were  present  at  a  break- 
fast given  by  Eugene,  the  parts  having  been  assigned,  and 
learned  in  advance,  and  the  two  victims  selected.  When 
each  had  taken  his  place  at  table,  Dugazon,  pretending  to 
stammer,  addressed  a  remark  to  Thiemet,  who,  playing  the 
same  role,  replied  to  him,  stammering  likewise ;  then  each 


48  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  them  pretended  to  believe  that  the  other  was  making 
fun  of  him,  and  there  followed  a  stuttering  quarrel  between 
the  two  parties,  each  one  finding  it  more  and  more  diffi- 
cult to  express  himself  as  his  anger  rose.  Thiemet,  who 
besides  his  role  of  stammering  was  also  playing  that  of 
deafness,  addressed  his  neighbor,  his  trumpet  in  his  ear: 
" Wha-wha-whatnlo-does  he  say?"  -"Nothing,"  replied 
the  officious  neighbor,  wishing  to  prevent  a  quarrel,  and  to 
supply  facts  while  defending  the  other  stammerer.  —  "So- 
so-he-he-he-he's  ma-making  fun  of  me!"  Then  the  quarrel 
became  more  violent  still;  they  were  a|)out  to  come  to 
blows,  when  each  of  the  two  stammerers  seizing  a  carafe 
of  water,  hurled  it  at  the  head  of  his  antagonist,  and  a 
copious  deluge  of  water  from  the  bottles  taught  the  offi- 
cious neighbors  the  great  danger  of  acting  as  peacemakers. 
The  two  stammerers  continued  to  scream  as  is  the  custom 
of  deaf  persons,  until  the  last  drop  of  water  was  spilt; 
and  I  remember  that  Eugene,  the  originator  of  this  practi- 
cal joke,  laughed  immoderately  the  whole  time  this  scene 
lasted.  The  water  was  wiped  off;  and  all  were  soon 
reconciled,  glass  in  hand.  Eugene,  when  he  had  perpe- 
trated a  joke  of  this  sort,  never  failed  to  relate  it  to  his 
mother,  and  sometimes  to  his  stepfather,  who  were  much 
amused  thereby,  Josephine  especially. 

I  had  led  for  one  month  a  very  pleasant  life  with  Eugene, 
when  Lefebvre,  the  valet  de  chambre  whom  he  had  left  sick 
at  Cairo,  returned  in  restored  health,  and  asked  to  resume 
his  place.  Eugene,  whom  I  suited  better  on  account  of 
my  age  and  activity,  proposed  to  him  to  enter  his  mother's 
service,  suggesting  to  him  that  he  would  there  have  an 
easier  time  than  with  himself;  but  Lefebvre,  who  was 


CONSTANT  LEAVES  EUGENE.  49 

extremely  attached  to  his  master,  sought  Madame  Bona- 
parte, and  confided  to  her  his  chagrin  at  this  decision. 
Josephine  promised  to  assist  him ;  and  consoled  him  by 
assurances  that  she  would  suggest  to  her  son  that  Le- 
febvre  should  reassume  his  former  position,  and  that  she 
would  take  me  into  her  own  service.  This  was  done 
according  to  promise ;  and  one  morning  Eugene  announced 
to  me,  in  the  most  gratifying  manner,  my  change  of  abode. 
"Constant,"  he  said  to  me,  "I  regret  very  much  that 
circumstances  require  us  to  part;  but  you  know  Lefebvre 
followed  me  to  Egypt,  he  is  an  old  servant,  and  I  feel  com- 
pelled to  give  him  his  former  position.  Besides,  you  will 
not  be  far  removed,  as  you  will  enter  my  mother's  service, 
where  you  will  be  well  treated,  and  we  will  see  each  other 
often.  Go  to  her  this  morning;  I  have  spoken  to  her  of 
you.  The  matter  is  already  arranged,  and  she  expects 
you." 

As  may  be  believed,  I  lost  no  time  in  presenting  myself 
to  Madame  Bonaparte.  Knowing  that  she  was  at  Mal- 
maison,  I  went  there  immediately,  and  was  received  by  her 
with  a  kindness  which  overwhelmed  me  with  gratitude,  as 
I  was  not  then  aware  that  she  manifested  this  same  gra- 
ciousness  to  every  one,  and  that  it  was  as  inseparable  from 
her  character  as  was  grace  from  her  person.  The  duties 
required  of  me,  in  her  service,  were  altogether  nominal ; 
and  nearly  all  my  time  was  at  my  own  disposal,  of  which 
I  took  advantage  to  visit  Paris  frequently.  The  life  that 
I  led  at  this  time  was  very  pleasant  to  a  young  man  like 
myself,  who  could  not  foresee  that  in  a  short  while  he 
would  be  as  much  under  subjection  as  he  was  then  at 
liberty. 


50  EECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Before  bidding  adieu  to  a  service  in  which  I  had  found 
so  much  that  was  agreeable,  I  will  relate  some  incidents 
which  belong  to  that  period,  and  which  my  situation  with 
the  stepson  of  General  Bonaparte  gave  me  the  opportunity 
of  learning. 

M.  de  Bourrienne1  has  related  circumstantially  in  his 
memoirs  the  events  of  the  18th  Brumaire ;  2  and  the  account 
which  he  has  given  of  that  famous  day  is  as  correct  as  it 
is  interesting,  so  that  any  one  curious  to  know  the  secret 
causes  which  led  to  these  political  changes  will  find  them 
faithfully  pointed  out  in  the  narration  of  that  minister  of 
state.  I  am  very  far  from  intending  to  excite  an  interest 
of  this  kind,  but  reading  the  work  of  M.  Bourrienne  put 
me  again  on  the  track  of  my  own  recollections.  These 
memoirs  relate  to  circumstances  of  which  he  was  ignorant, 
or  possibly  may  have  omitted  purposely  as  being  of  little 
importance ;  and  whatever  he  has  let  fall  on  his  road  I 
think  myself  fortunate  in  being  permitted  to  glean. 

I  was  still  with  Eugene  de  Beauharnais  when  General 
Bonaparte  overthrew  the  Directory;  but  I  found  myself 
in  as  favorable  a  situation  to  know  all  that  was  passing  as 
if  I  had  been  in  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte,  or  of 
the  general  himself,  for  my  master,  although  he  was  very 

1  Louis  Antoine  Fauvelet  de  Bourrienne,  born  at  Sens,  1769,  was  a  school- 
mate of  Napoleon  at  Brienne,  became  his  private  secretary,  and  accompanied 
him  to  Egypt.     He  was  detected  in  some  peculations,  and  dismissed  in  1802, 
but  was  sent  as  minister  to  Hamburg.     In  1814  he  joined  the  Bourbons,  fled 
with  them  to  Ghent  during  the  Hundred  Days,  and  was  made  postmaster- 
general  on  their  return.     He  died  in  a  lunatic  asylum  in  1834.     He  wrote  an 
interesting  but  not  reliable  life  of  Napoleon,  which  is  tinged  with  prejudice 
against  his  former  patron.  — TRANS. 

2  The  18th  Brumaire,  Nov.  9,  1799,  was  the  day  Napoleon  overthrew  the 
Directory  and  made  himself  First  Consul.  —TRANS. 


POLITICAL   BREAKFASTS.  51 

young,  had  the  entire  confidence  of  his  stepfather,  and, 
to  an  even  greater  degree,  that  of  his  mother,  who  con- 
sulted him  on  every  occasion. 

A  few  days  before  the  18th  Brumaire,  Eugene  ordered 
*me  to  make  preparations  for  a  breakfast  he  wished  to  give 
on  that  day  to  his  friends,  the  number  of  the  guests,  all 
military  men,  being  much  larger  than  usual.  This  bachelor 
repast  was  made  very  gay  by  an  officer,  who  amused  the 
company  by  imitating  in  turn  the  manners  and  appearance 
of  the  directors  and  a  few  of  their  friends.  To  represent 
the  Director  Barras,  he  draped  himself  a  la  grecque  with 
the  tablecloth,  took  off  his  black  cravat,  turned  down  his 
shirt-collar,  and  advanced  in  an  affected  manner,  resting 
his  left  arm  on  the  shoulder  of  the  youngest  of  his  com- 
rades, while  with  his  right  he  pretended  to  caress  his  chin. 
Each  person  of  the  company  understood  the  meaning  of 
that  kind  of  charade ;  and  there  were  uncontrollable  bursts 
of  laughter. 

He  undertook  then  to  represent  the  Abbe  Sieyes,  *  by 
placing  an  enormous  band  of  paper  inside  of  his  neckcloth, 
and  lengthening  thus  indefinitely  a  long,  pale  face.  He 
made  a  few  turns  around  the  room,  astraddle  of  his  chair, 
and  ended  by  a  grand  somersault,  as  if  his  steed  had  dis- 
mounted him.  It  is  necessary  to  know,  in  order  to  under- 
stand the  significance  of  this  pantomime,  that  the  Abbe 
Sieyes  had  been  recently  taking  lessons  in  horseback  rid- 

1  One  of  the  five  directors  who  were  then  the  executive  government. 
He  was  born  at  Frejus,  1748,  and  became  a  canon.  As  a  member  of  the 
clergy  in  the  States  General,  he  voted  to  join  the  Tiers  Etat.  In  the  Conven- 
tion he  voted  for  the  death  of  the  king.  Was  ambassador  to  Prussia,  1797. 
and  the  next  year  succeeded  Rewbell  in  the  Directory.  Was  second  consul 
after  18th  Brumaire,  and  then  became  senator.  Died  1836-  — TRANS. 


52  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ing  in  the  garden  of  the  Luxembourg,  to  the  great  amuse- 
ment of  the  pedestrians,  who  gathered  in  crowds  to  enjoy 
the  awkward  and  ungraceful  exhibition  made  by  this  new 
master  of  horse. 

The  breakfast  ended,  Eugene  reported  for  duty  to" 
General  Bonaparte,  whose  aide-de-camp  he  was,  and  his 
friends  rejoined  the  various  commands  to  which  they  be- 
longed. 

I  went  out  immediately  behind  them ;  for  from  a  few 
words  that  had  just  been  dropped-  at  my  young  master's, 
I  suspected  that  something  grave  and  interesting  was 
about  to  take  place.  M.  Eugene  had  appointed  a  rendez- 
vous with  his  comrades  at  Pont^Tournant ;  so  I  repaired  to 
that  spot,  and  found  a  considerable  gathering  of  officers  in 
uniform  and  on  horseback,  assembled  in  readiness  to  escort 
General  Bonaparte  to  Saint-Cloud. 

The  commandant  of  each  part  of  the  army  had  been 
requested  by  General  Bonaparte  to  give  a  breakfast  to 
their  corps  of  officers ;  and  they  had  done  so  like  my 
young  master.  Nevertheless,  the  officers,  even  the  gen- 
erals, were  not  all  in  the  secret ;  and  General  Murat  him- 
self, who  rushed  into  the  Hall  of  the  Five  Hundred  at 
the  head  of  the  grenadiers,  believed  that  it  was  only  a 
question  of  exemption,  on  account  of  age,  that  General 
Bonaparte  intended  to  propose,  in  order  that  he  might 
obtain  the  place  of  director. 

I  have  learned  from  an  authoritative  source,  that  when 
General  Jube,1  who  was  devoted  to  General  Bonaparte, 
assembled  in  the  court  of  the  Luxembourg,  the  guard  of 
the  directors  of  which  he  was  commander,  the  honest  M. 

l  Historian  and  general,  born  1765 ;  died  1824.  —  TRANS. 


GENERAL  MAEMONT.  53 

Gohier,1  president  of  the  Directory,  put  his  head  out  of  the 
window,  and  cried  to  Jube  :  "  Citizen  General,  what  are 
you  doing  down  there  ?  "  — "  Citizen  President,  you  can 
see  for  yourself  I  am  mustering  the  guard."  -  "Certainly, 
I  see  that  very  plainly,  Citizen  General;  but  why  are  you 
mustering  them  ?  "  —  "  Citizen  President,  I  am  going  to 
make  an  inspection  of  them,  and  order  a  grand  maneuver. 
Forward  —  march  !  "  —  And  the  citizen  general  filed  out  at 
the  head  of  his  troop  to  rejoin  General  Bonaparte  at  Saint- 
Cloud  ;  while  the  latter  was  awaited  at  the  house  of  the 
citizen  president,  and  the  breakfast  delayed  to  which  Gen- 
eral Bonaparte  had  been  invited  for  that  very  morning. 

General  Marmont2  had  also  entertained  at  breakfast 
the  officers  of  the  division  of  the  army  which  he  com- 
manded (it  was,  I  think,  the  artillery).  At  the  end  of 
the  repast  he  addressed  a  few  words  to  them,  urging  them 
not  to  alienate  their  cause  from  that  of  the  conqueror  of 
Italy,  and  to  accompany  him  to  Saint-Cloud.  "But  how 
can  we  follow  him  ?  "  cried  one  of  his  guests.  "  We  have 
no  horses."  - "  If  that  alone  deters  you,  you  will  find 
horses  in  the  court  of  this  hotel.  I  have  seized  all  those 


1  Louis  Jerome  Gohier,  born  at  Semblancay,  1740 ;  member  of  Legislative 
Assembly  in  1791;  was  made  a  judge,  and  in  1790  succeeded  Treilhard  in  tho 
Directory.    In  1801  was  consul-general  to  Holland ;  and  died  in  Paris  in  ob- 
scurity, 1830,  aged  90.  —  TRANS. 

2  Afterwards  marshal  and  Duke  of  Ragusa,  was  of  noble  birth,  and  was 
born  at  Chatillon-sur-Seine,  1774.    He  was   aide-de-camp  to  Bonaparte  in 
the  Italian  campaign,  and  accompanied  him  as  brigadier-general  to  Egypt. 
Made  general  of  division  at  Marengo  and   marshal  at  Wagram,  1809.    He 
lost  the  battle  and  an  arm  at  Salamanca,  1812.    He  surrendered  Paris  in 
1814,  and  was  denounced  by  Napoleon  as  a  traitor.      In  1830  he  unsuccess- 
fully defended   tho  Tuileries  for  Charles  X.     His  name  was  struck  off  the 
army  list,  and  he  was  exiled.    He  died  at  Venice,  1852,  the  last  survivor  of 
Napoleon's  marshals.    He  left  his  "Memoirs"  and  other  writings.  —  TKANS. 


54  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  the  national  riding-school.  Let  us  go  below  and 
mount."  All  the  officers  present  responded  to  the  in- 
vitation except  General  Allix,1  who  declared  he  would 
take  no  part  in  all  this  disturbance. 

I  was  at  Saint^Cloud  on  the  two  days,  18th  and  19th 
Brumaire.2  I  saw  General  Bonaparte  harangue  the  sol- 
diers, and  read  to  them  the  decree  by  which  he  had  been 
made  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  troops  at  Paris,  and 
of  the  whole  of  the  Seventeenth  Military  Division.  I 
saw  him  come  out  much  agitated  first  from  the  Council  .of 
the  Ancients,  and  afterwards  from  the  Assembly  of  the 
Five  Hundred.  I  saw  Lucien  Bonaparte  brought  out  of 
the  hall,  where  the  latter  assembly  was  sitting,  by  some 
grenadiers,  sent  in  to  protect  him  from  the  violence  of  his 
colleagues.  Pale  and  furious,  he  threw  himself  on  his 
horse  and  galloped  straight  to  the  troops  to  address  them ; 
and  when  he  pointed  his  sword  at  his  brother's  breast,  say- 
ing he  would  be  the  first  to  slay  him  if  he  dared  to  strike 
at  liberty,  cries  of  "  Vive  Bonaparte !  down  with  the  law- 
yers !  "  burst  forth  on  all  sides ;  and  the  soldiers,  led  by 
General  Murat,  rushed  into  the  Hall  of  the  Five  Hun- 
dred. Everybody  knows  what  then  occurred,  and  I  will 
not  enter  into  details  which  have  been  so  often  related. 

The  general,  now  made  First  Consul,  installed  himself 
at  the  Luxembourg,3  though  at  this  time  he  resided  also  at 
Malmaison.  But  he  was  often  on  the  road,  as  was  also 
Josephine ;  for  their  trips  to  Paris  when  they  occupied  this 

1  Born  at  Percy,  Dept.  of  La  Manche,  1776;  died  1830.    He  was  probably 
not  a  general  at  this  time,  as  he  served  as  colonel  at  Marengo,  1800.  —  TRANS. 

2  9th  and  10th  of  November,  1799. 

8  In  Paris,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Seine.  The  French  Senate  now  holds 
its  sessions  there.  —  TRANS. 


MALMAISON.  55 

residence  were  very  frequent,  not  only  on  Government  busi- 
ness, which  often  required  the  presence  of  the  First  Consul, 
but  also  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  theater,  of  whose 
performances  General  Bonaparte  was  very  fond,  giving  the 
preference  always  to  the  Theatre  Frangais  and  the  Italian 
Opera.  This  observation  I  make  in  passing,  preferring  to 
give  hereafter  the  information  I  have  obtained  as  to  the 
tastes  and  habits  of  the  emperor. 

Malmaison,  at  the  period  of  which  I  speak,  was  a  place 
of  unalloyed  happiness,  where  all  who  came  expressed  their 
satisfaction  with  the  state  of  affairs  ;  everywhere  also  I 
heard  blessings  invoked  upon  the  First  Consul  and  Madame 
Bonaparte.  There  was  not  yet  the  shadow  of  that  strict 
etiquette  which  it  was  necessary  afterwards  to  observe  at 
Saint-Cloud,  at  the  Tuileries,  and  in  all  the  palaces  in 
which  the  Emperor  held  his  court.  The  consular  court 
was  as  yet  distinguished  by  a  simple  elegance,  equally 
removed  from  republican  rudeness  and  the  luxuriousness 
of  the  Empire.  Talleyrand  was,  at  this  period,  one  of 
those  who  came  most  frequently  to  Malmaison.  He  some- 
times dined  there,  but  arrived  generally  in  the  evening 
between  eight  and  nine  o'clock,  and  returned  at  one,  two, 
and  sometimes  three  in  the  morning. 

All  were  admitted  at  Madame  Bonaparte's  on  a  foot- 
ing of  equality,  which  was  most  gratifying.  There  came 
familiarly  Murat,1  Duroc,  Berthier,  and  all  those  who 

1  Joachim  Murat,  born  1771,  near  Cahors,  son  of  an  innkeeper,  became 
one  of  the  body-guard  of  Louis  XVI.  First  served  under  Bonaparte  on  the 
13th  Vendemiare,  when  he  quelled  the  Sections  of  Paris.  He  became  his 
aide,  accompanied  him  as  general  to  Egypt,  dispersed  the  Council  of  Five 
Hundred  on  the  18th  Brumaire.  He  became  marshal  in  1801," Grand  Duke 
of  Berg  and  Cleves  in  1806,  and  King  of  Naples  in  1808.  He  commanded  the 


56  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

have  since  figured  as  great  dignitaries,  and  some  even  as 
sovereigns,  in  the  annals  of  the  empire. 

The  family  of  General  Bonaparte  were  assiduous  in 
their  attentions ;  but  it  was  known  among  us  that  they 
had  no  love  for  Madame  Bonaparte,  of  which  fact  I  had 
many  proofs.  Mademoiselle  Hortense  never  left  her 
mother,  and  they  were  devotedly  attached  to  each  other. 

Besides  men  distinguished  by  their  posts  under  the 
government  or  in  the  army,  there  gathered  others  also  who 
were  not  less  distinguished  by  personal  merit,  or  the  posi- 
tion which  their  birth  had  given  them  before  the  Revolu- 
tion. It  was  a  veritable  panorama,  in  which  we  saw  the 
persons  themselves  pass  before  our  eyes.  The  scene  it- 
self, even  exclusive  of  the  gayety  which  always  attended 
the  dinings  of  Eugene,  had  its  attractions.  Among 
those  whom  we  saw  most  frequently  were  Volney,1 


cavalry.  He  abandoned  Napoleon  in  1814,  lost  his  own  kingdom,  and  in 
attempting  to  regain  it  was  taken  and  shot,  Oct.  13,  1815.  He  married 
Caroline,  sister  of  Napoleon.  —  TRANS. 

Duroc,  horn  at  Pont-a-Mousson,  1772.  In  1796  became  aide-de-camp 
of  Bonaparte,  accompanied  him  to  Egypt,  and  was  made  general  of  brigade. 
In  1805  became  Grand  Marshal  of  the  Palace,  and  later  Duke  of  Friuli; 
commanded  a  division  at  Austerlitz,  "Wagram,  and  Essling;  and  was  killed 
by  a  cannon-ball,  at  Bautzen  in  1813.  —  TRANS. 

Alexandra  Berthier,  born  1753,  at  Versailles,  served  in  America,  and 
was  captain  of  engineers  at  the  surrender  of  Yorktown.  In  1796  he  went  to 
Italy  as  major-general,  and  made  the  friendship  of  Napoleon ;  accompanied 
him  to  Egypt  as  chief  of  staff,  and  served  ever  afterwards  in  that  capacity. 
Became  marshal  in  1804,  Prince  of  Neuchatel  1806,  Prince  of  Wagram  1809. 
Was  one  of  the  first  to  submit  to  the  Bourbons  in  1814.  He  married  the 
daughter  of  the  King  of  Wiirtemberg.  On  the  return  from  Elba,  he  was 
killed  at  Bamberg  by  a  fall  from  a  balcony  while  watching  troops  marching 
towards  the  French  frontier,  whether  by  his  own  act,  or  by  masked  men,  has 
never  been  determined.  —  TRANS. 

1  Constapt  Francis  Chassebeuf,  calling  himself  Volney,  celebrated 
orientalist  and  philosopher,  bom  1757.  He  published  his  celebrated  KUI'HS 


1IOETENSE  THROWN  FROM  HER  JJORSE.  57 

Denon,1  Lemercier,2  the  Prince  of  Poix,  de  Laigle,  Charles 
Baudin,  General  Beurnonville,3  Isabey,4  and  a  number  of 
others,  celebrated  in  science,  literature,  and  art;  in  short, 
the  greater  part  of  those  who  composed  the  society  of 
Madame  de  Montesson. 

Madame  Bonaparte  and  Mademoiselle  Hortense  often 
took  excursions  on  horseback  into  the  country.  On 
these  occasions  her  most  constant  escorts  were  the  Prince 
de  Poix  and  M.  de  Laigle.  One  day,  as  this  party  was 
re-entering  the  court-yard  at  Malmaison,  the  horse  which 
Hortense  rode  became  frightened,  and  dashed  off.  She 
was  an  accomplished  rider,  and  very  active,  so  she  at- 
tempted to  spring  off  on  the  grass  by  the  roadside ;  but 
the  band  which  fastened  the  end  of  her  riding-skirt  under 
her  foot  prevented  her  freeing  herself  quickly,  and  she 
was  thrown,  and  dragged  by  her  horse  for  several  yards. 


in  1791.  Came  to  the  United  States  in  1795.  On  his  return  in  1798  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Institute,  and  later  senator.  He  published  several  volumes 
of  travels  and  philosophy.  Died,  April,  1820.  — TRANS. 

1  Baron  Denon,   born  1747,   at  Chalons-sur-Saone,   accompanied  Bona- 
parte to  Egypt,   and   afterwards  was  made  director  of  Museums  and  the 
Mint.    He  wrote  several  volumes.    Died  1825.  —  TRANS. 

2  Nepomucene    Lemercier,   dramatic  writer  and  author,  was   born  at 
Paris,  1771.      He  was   elected  member  of  the   French  Academy  in   1810. 
Talleyrand  said  he  was  the  best  conversationalist  in    France.    Amid    all 
the  changes  of  government  he  remained  a  republican.    Died  1840.  —  TRANS. 

8  Pierre  Kiel  de  Beurnonville,  born  in  1752  at  Champignoles  (Aube). 
He  served  in  the  East  Indies  under  Suffren,  returned  to  France  in  1789, 
was  at  Jemmapes  and  Valmy,  and  became  minister  of  war.  Was  sent 
to  arrest  Dumouriez,  but  was  arrested  by  him,  and  delivered  up  to  the 
Austrians.  Under  the  Consulate  and  Empire,  he  was  minister  to  Berlin 
and  to  Madrid.  Became  senator  1805.  He  joined  the  Bourbons  in  1814, 
and  fled  to  Ghent  in  1815  with  the  king,  who  made  him  a  marquis,  and 
subsequently  marshal.  Died  1821.  —  TRANS. 

4  Jean  Baptiste  Isabey,  Court  Painter  to  Napoleon.  Born  at  Nancy, 
1707;  died  1855. —TRANS. 


58  RECOLLECTIONS   Off  NAPOLEOtf. 

Fortunately  the  gentlemen  of  the  party,  seeing  her  fall, 
sprang  from  their  horses  in  time  to  rescue  her;  and,  by 
extraordinary  good  fortune,  she  was  not  even  bruised,  and 
was  the  first  to  laugh  at  her  misadventure. 

During  the  first  part  of  my  stay  at  Malmaison,  the 
First  Consul  always  slept  with  his  wife,  like  an  ordi- 
nary citizen  of  the  middle  classes  in  Paris ;  and  I  heard 
no  rumor  of  any  intrigue  in  the  chateau.  The  persons  of 
this  society,  most  of  whom  were  young,  and  who  were 
often  very  numerous,  frequently  took  part  in  sports  which 
recalled  college  days.  In  fact,  one  of  the  greatest  diver- 
sions of  the  inhabitants  of  Malmaison  was  to  play  "pris- 
oners' base."  It  was  usually  after  dinner ;  and  Bonaparte, 
Lauriston,1  Didelot,  de  Lucay,  de  Bourrienne,  Eugene, 
Rapp,2  Isabey,  Madame  Bonaparte,  and  Mademoiselle  Hor- 
tense  would  divide  themselves  into  two  camps,  in  which 
the  prisoners  taken,  or  exchanged,  would  recall  to  the 
First  Consul  the  greater  game,  which  he  so  much  pre- 
ferred. In  these  games  the  most  active  runners  were 
Eugene,  Isabey,  and  Hortense.  As  to  General  Bonaparte, 
he  often  fell,  but  rose  laughing  boisterously. 

General  Bonaparte  and  his  family  seemed  to  enjoy 
almost  unexampled  happiness,  especially  when  at  Mal- 

1  Born   at   Pondicherry,  East   Indies,  1768;    schoolmate  of  Napoleon, 
and  served  as  his  aide-de-camp  at  Marengo.    Governor-general  of  Venice, 
1807;   and  in  1809  commander  of  the  artillery  of  the  Guard.    Ambassador 
to  Russia  1811,  and  commanded  an  army  corps  1813.     Was  made  marshal 
1823;  died  1828.    He  was  a  great  nephew  of  John  Law,  the  famous  financier. 
— TRANS. 

2  Jean  Rapp,  born  at  Colmar  1772,  was  aide-de-camp  to  Desaix.    Was 
made  general  of  division  at  Austerlitz ;  held  Dantzic  in  1813,  and  preserved 
Alsace  in  1815.    Became  peer,  and  died  1821.     Was  remarkably  handsome. 
—  TRANS. 


AMATEUR   THEATRICALS.  59 

maison,  which  residence,  though  agreeable  at  that  time, 
was  far  from  being  what  it  has  since  become.  This  es- 
tate consisted  of  the  chateau,  which  Bonaparte  found  in 
bad  condition  on  his  return  from  Egypt,  a  park  already 
somewhat  improved,  and  a  farm,  the  income  of  which  did 
not  with  any  certainty  exceed  twelve  thousand  francs 
a  year.  Josephine  directed  in  person  all  the  improvements 
made  there,  and  no  woman  ever  possessed  better  taste. 

From  the  first,  they  played  amateur  comedy  at  Mal- 
maison,  which  was  a  relaxation  the  First  Consul  enjoyed 
greatly,  but  in  which  he  took  no  part  himself  except  that 
of  looker-on.  Every  one  in  the  house  attended  these  rep- 
resentations ;  and  I  must  confess  we  felt  perhaps  even 
more  pleasure  than  others  in  seeing  thus  travestied  on  the 
stage  those  in  whose  service  we  were. 

The  Malmaison  Troupe,  if  I  may  thus  style  actors  of 
such  exalted  social  rank,  consisted  principally  of  Eugene, 
Jerome,  Lauriston,  de  Bourrienne,  Isabey,  de  Leroy,  Dide- 
lot,  Mademoiselle  Hortense,  Madame  Caroline  Murat,  and 
the  two  Mademoiselles  Auguie,  one  of  whom  afterwards 
married  Marshal  Ney,1  and  the  other  M.  de  Broc.  All  four 
were  very  young  and  charming,  and  few  theaters  in  Paris 
could  show  four  actresses  as  pretty.  In  addition  to  which, 
they  showed  much  grace  in  their  acting,  and  played  their 
parts  with  real  talent;  and  were  as  natural  on  the  stage  as 

1  Michel  Ney,  styled  by  Napoleon  the  "bravest  of  the  brave,"  was  born 
17G9,  at  Sarre-Louis  (now  in  Prussia),  son  of  a  cooper.  Entered  the  army  as  a 
private  1787,  adjutant-general  1794,  general  of  brigade  1796,  general  of  divis- 
ion 1799,  marshal  1804,  Duke  of  Elchingen  1805,  Prince  of  Moskwa  1812,  and 
commanded  the  rear-guard  in  the  famous  retreat  from  Russia.  On  the  return 
from  Elba  he  went  over  to  Napoleon;  was  at  Waterloo.  Was  afterwards 
taken,  and  in  spite  of  the  terms  of  the  surrender  of  Paris  was  tried  for 
treason,  and  shot  in  the  gardens  of  the  Luxembourg,  Dec.  8,  1815.  —  TRANS. 


60  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

in  the  saloon,  where  they  bore  themselves  with  exquisite 
grace  and  refinement.  At  first  the  repertoire  contained  lit- 
tle variety,  though  the  pieces  were  generally  well  selected. 
The  first  representation  which  I  attended  was  the  "  Barber 
of  Seville  "  1  —  in  which  Isabey  played  the  role  of  Figaro, 
and  Mademoiselle  Hortense  that  of  Rosine  —  and  the 
"Spiteful  Lover."  Another  time  I  saw  played  the  "Un- 
expected Wager,"  and  "  False  Consultations."  Hortense 
and  Eugene  played  this  last  piece  perfectly ;  and  I  still 
recall  that,  in  the  role  of  Madame  le  Blanc,  Hortense  ap- 
peared prettier  than  ever  in  the  character  of  an  old  woman, 
Eugene  representing  Le  Noir,  and  Lauriston  the  charlatan. 
The  First  Consul,  as  I  have  said,  confined  himself  to  the 
role  of  spectator;  but  he  seemed  to  take  in  these  fireside 
plays,  so  to  speak,  the  greatest  pleasure,  laughed  and  ap- 
plauded heartily,  though  sometimes  he  also  criticised. 

Madame  Bonaparte  was  also  highly  entertained;  and 
even  if  she  could  not  always  boast  of  the  successful  acting 
of  her  children,  "  the  chiefs  of  the  troupe,"  it  sufficed  her 
that  it  was  an  agreeable  relaxation  to  her  husband,  and 
seemed  to  give  him  pleasure ;  for  her  constant  study  was 
to  contribute  to  the  happiness  of  the  great  man  who  had 
united  her  destiny  with  his  own. 

When  the  day  for  the  presentation  of  a  play  had  been 
appointed,  there  was  never  any  postponement,  but  often 
a  change  of  the  play;  not  because  of  the  indisposition,  or 
fit  of  the  blues,  of  an  actress  (as  often  happens  in  the 
theaters  of  Paris),  but  for  more  serious  reasons.  It  some- 
times happened  that  M.  d'Etieulette  received  orders  to 
rejoin  his  regiment,  or  an  important  mission  was  confided 
1  The  celebrated  comedy  by  Beaumarchais.  —  TRANS. 


NAPOLEON  SIMPLY  A   SPECTATOR.  61 

to  Count  Alma  viva,  though  Figaro  and  Rosin  e  always  re- 
mained at  their  posts ;  and  the  desire  of  pleasing  the  First 
Consul  was,  besides,  so  general  among  all  those  who  sur 
rounded  him,  that  the  substitutes  did  their  best  in  the 
absence  of  the  principals,  and  the  play  never  failed  for 
want  of  an  actor.1 

1  Michau,  of  the  Come'die  Fran9aise,  was  the  instructor  of  the  troupe. 
Wherever  it  happened  that  an  actor  was  wanting  in  animation,  Michau 
would  exclaim :  "Warmth!  Warmth!  Warmth!"  —  Note  by  CONSTANT. 


62  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   III. 

M.  Charvet.  —  Events  prior  to  the  author's  entrance  into  the  service  of 
Madame  Bonaparte. — Departure  for  Egypt. — La  Pomone.  —  Madame 
Bonaparte  at  Plombieres. —  Terrible  fall. — Madame  Bonaparte  forced  to 
remain  at  the  Springs,  sends  for  her  daughter.  —  Dainties  and  mischief. 

—  Euphemie. —  La  Pomone  captured  by  the  English.  —  Return  to  Paris.  — 
Purchase  of  Malmaison.  —  First  plots  against  the  life  of  the  First  Consul. 

—  Marble-cutters.  —  Poisoned  tobacco. — Projects  of  kidnapping.  —  In- 
stallation in  the  Tuileries.  —  The  horses  and  saber  of  Campo  Formio.  — 
The  heroes  of   Egypt  and  Italy.  —  Lannes.  —  Murat.  —  Eugene.  —  Distri- 
bution of  apartments  at  the  Tuileries.  —  Kitchen  service  of  the  First 
Consul.  —  Service  of  the  bedroom. — M.  de  Bourrienne.  —  Game  of  bil- 
liards with  Madame  Bonaparte.  — The  watch-dogs.  —  Accident  to  a  work- 
man.—  Holidays  of  the  First  Consul.  — The  First  Consul  much  loved  by 
his  household.  —  "They  would  not  dare."  — The  First  Consul  inspecting 
his  household  accounts.  —  The  yoke  of  misery. 

I  HAD  been  only  a  very  short  time  in  the  service 
of  Madame  Bonaparte  when  I  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Charvet,  the  concierge  of  Malmaison,  and  in  connection 
with  this  estimable  man  became  each  day  more  and  more 
intimate,  till  at  last  he  gave  me  one  of  his  daughters  in 
marriage.  I  was  eager  to  learn  from  him  all  that  he 
could  tell  me  concerning  Madame  Bonaparte  and  the  First 
Consul  prior  to  my  entrance  into  the  house;  and  in  our 
frequent  conversations  he  took  the  greatest  pleasure  in 
satisfying  my  curiosity.  It  is  to  him  I  owe  the  following 
details  as  to  the  mother  and  daughter. 

When  General  Bonaparte  set  out  for  Egypt,  Madame 
Bonaparte  accompanied  him  as  far  as  Toulon,  and  was 
extremely  anxious  to  go  with  him  to  Egypt.  When  the 


MADAME  BONAPARTE  AT  PLOMBIEEES.      63 

general  made  objections,  she  observed  that  having  been 
born  a  Creole,  the  heat  of  the  climate  would  be  more 
favorable  than  dangerous  to  her.  By  a  singular  coinci- 
dence it  was  on  La  Pomone  that  she  wished  to  make  the 
journey;  that  is  to  say,  on  the  very  same  vessel  which 
in  her  early  youth  had  brought  her  from  Martinique  to 
France.  General  Bonaparte,  finally  yielding  to  the  wishes 
of  his  wife,  promised  to  send  La  Pomone  for  her,  and 
bade  her  go  in  the  meantime  to  take  the  waters  at  Plom- 
bieres.  The  matter  being  arranged  between  husband  and 
wife,  Madame  Bonaparte  was  delighted  to  go  to  the 
springs  of  Plombieres  which  she  had  desired  to  visit 
for  a  long  time,  knowing,  like  every  one  else,  the  repu- 
tation these  waters  enjoyed  for  curing  barrenness  in 
women. 

Madame  Bonaparte  had  been  only  a  short  time  at  Plom- 
bieres, when  one  morning,  while  occupied  in  hemming  a 
turban  and  chatting  with  the  ladies  present,  Madame  de 
Cambis,  who  was  on  the  balcony,  called  to  her  to  come  and 
see  a  pretty  little  dog  passing  along  the  street.  All  the 
company  hastened  with  Madame  Bonaparte  to  the  balcony, 
which  caused  it  to  fall  with  a  frightful  crash.  By  a  most 
fortunate  chance,  no  one  was  killed;  though  Madame  de 
Cambis  had  her  leg  broken,  and  Madame  Bonaparte  was 
most  painfully  bruised,  without,  however,  receiving  any 
fracture.  Charvet,  who  was  in  a  room  behind  the  sa- 
loon, heard  the  noise,  and  at  once  had  a  sheep  killed 
and  skinned,  and  Madame  Bonaparte  wrapped  in  the  skin. 
It  was  a  long  while  before  she  regained  her  health,  her 
arms  and  her  hands  especially  being  so  bruised  that  she 
was  for  a  long  time  unable  to  use  them ;  and  it  was  neces- 


64  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

sary  to  cut  up  her  food,  feed  her,  and,  in  fact,  perform 
the  same  offices  for  her  as  for  an  infant. 

I  related  above  that  Josephine  thought  she  was  to  re- 
join her  husband  in  Egypt,  and  consequently  that  her  stay 
at  the  springs  of  Plombieres  would  be  of  short  duration : 
but  her  accident  led  her  to  think  that  it  would  be  pro- 
longed indefinitely;  she  therefore  desired,  while  waiting 
for  her  complete  recovery,  to  have  with  her  her  daughter 
Hortense,  then  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  who  was  being 
educated  in  the  boarding-school  of  Madame  Canipan.  She 
sent  for  her  a  mulatto  woman  to  whom  she  was  much  at- 
tached, named  Euphemie,  who  was  the  foster-sister  of 
Madame  Bonaparte,  and  passed  (I  do  not  know  if  the 
supposition  was  correct)  as  her  natural  sister.  Euphemie, 
accompanied  by  Charvet,  made  the  journey  in  one  of  Ma- 
dame Bonaparte's  carriages.  Mademoiselle  Hortense,  on 
their  arrival,  was  delighted  with  the  journey  she  was  about 
to  make,  and  above  all  with  the  idea  of  being  near  her 
mother,  for  whom  she  felt  the  tenderest  affection.  Ma- 
demoiselle Hortense  was,  I  would  not  say,  greedy,  but  she 
was  exceedingly  fond  of  sweets;  and  Charvet,  hi  relating 
these  details,  said  to  me,  that  at  each  town  of  any  size 
through  which  they  passed  the  carriage  was  filled  with  bon- 
bons and  dainties,  of  which  mademoiselle  consumed  a  great 
quantity.  One  day,  while  Euphemie  and  Charvet  were 
sound  asleep,  they  were  suddenly  awakened  by  a  report, 
which  sounded  frightful  to  them,  and  caused  them  intense 
anxiety,  as  they  found  when  they  awoke  that  they  were 
passing  through  a  thick  forest.  This  ludicrous  incident 
threw  Hortense  into  fits  of  laughter ;  for  hardly  had  they 
expressed  their  alarm  when  they  found  themselves  deluged 


RETURN   TO  PARIS.  65 

with  an  odoriferous  froth,  which  explained  the  cause  of  the 
explosion.  A  bottle  of  champagne,  placed  in  one  of  the 
pockets  of  the  carriage,  had  been  uncorked;  and  the  heat, 
added  to  the  motion  of  the  carriage,  or  rather  the  malice 
of  the  young  traveler,  had  made  it  explode  with  a  loud 
report. 

When  mademoiselle  arrived  at  Plombieres,  her  mother's 
health  was  almost  restored ;  so  that  the  pupil  of  Madame 
Campan  found  there  all  the  distractions  which  please  and 
delight  at  the  age  which  the  daughter  of  Madame  Bona- 
parte had  then  attained. 

There  is  truth  in  the  saying  that  in  all  evil  there  is 
good,  for  had  this  accident  not  happened  to  Madame 
Bonaparte,  it  is  very  probable  she  would  have  become 
a  prisoner  of  the  English;  in  fact,  she  learned  that  La 
Pomone,  the  vessel  on  which  she  wished  to  make  the 
voyage,  had  fallen  into  the  power  of  the  enemies  of  France. 
General  Bonaparte,  in  all  his  letters,  still  dissuaded  his 
wife  from  the  plan  she  had  of  rejoining  him;  and,  conse- 
quently, she  returned  to  Paris. 

On  her  arrival  Josephine  devoted  her  attention  to 
executing  a  wish  General  Bonaparte  had  expressed  to  her 
before  leaving.  He  had  remarked  to  her  that  he  should 
like,  on  his  return,  to  have  a  country  seat ;  and  he  charged 
his  brother  to  attend  to  this,  which  Joseph,  however,  failed 
to  do.  Madame  Bonaparte,  who,  on  the  contrary,  was 
always  in  search  of  what  might  please  her  husband, 
charged  several  persons  to  make  excursions  in  the  envi- 
rons of  Paris,  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  a  suitable 
dwelling  could  be  found.  After  having  vacillated  long 
between  Ris  and  Malmaison,  she  decided  on  the  latter, 


66  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

which  she  bought  from  M.  Lecoulteux-Dumoley,  for,  I 
think,  four  hundred  thousand  francs.1  Such  were  the  par- 
ticulars which  Charvet  was  kind  enough  to  give  me  when  I 
first  entered  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  Every  one 
in  the  house  loved  to  speak  of  her;  and  it  was  certainly 
not  to  speak  evil,  for  never  was  woman  more  beloved 
by  all  who  surrounded  her,  and  never  has  one  deserved 
it  more.  General  Bonaparte  was  also  an  excellent  man 
in  the  retirement  of  private  life. 

After  the  return  of  the  First  Consul  from  his  cam- 
paign in  Egypt,  several  attempts  against  his  life  had  been 
made ;  and  the  police  had  warned  him  many  times  to  be 
on  his  guard,  and  not  to  risk  himself  alone  in  the  environs 
of  Malmaison.  The  First  Consul  had  been  very  care- 
less up  to  this  period;  but  the  discovery  of  the  snares 
which  were  laid  for  him,  even  in  the  privacy  of  his  family 
circle,  forced  him  to  use  precautions  and  prudence.  It 
has  been  stated  since,  that  these  pretended  plots  were  only 
fabrications  of  the  police  to  render  themselves  necessary 
to  the  First  Consul,  or,  perhaps,  of  the  First  Consul  him- 
self, to  redouble  the  interest  which  attached  to  his  person, 
through  fear  of  the  perils  which  menaced  his  life ;  and  the 
absurdity  of  these  attempts  is  alleged  as  proof  of  this.  I 
could  not  pretend  to  elucidate  such  mysteries ;  but  it  seems 
to  me  that  in  such  matters  absurdity  proves  nothing,  or, 
at  least,  it  does  not  prove  that  such  plots  did  not  exist. 
The  conspirators  of  that  period  set  no  bounds  to  their 
extravagance ;  for  what  could  be  more  absurd,  and  at  the 
same  time  more  real,  than  the  atrocious  folly  of  the  infernal 
machine  ? 

1  $80,000.    At  present  it  is  the  property  of  the  French  Government. — 
TKANS. 


PLOTS  AGAINST  FIRST  CONSUL'S  LIFE.  67 

Be  that  as  it  may,  I  shall  relate  what  passed  under  my 
own  eyes  during  the  first  month  of  my  stay  at  Malmaison. 
No  one  there,  or,  at  least,  no  one  in  my  presence,  showed 
the  least  doubt  of  the  reality  of  these  attempts. 

In  order  to  get  rid  of  the  First  Consul,  all  means 
appeared  good  to  his  enemies :  they  noted  everything  in 
their  calculations,  even  his  absence  of  mind.  The  follow- 
ing occurrence  is  proof  of  this :  - 

There  were  repairs  and  ornamentations  to  be  made  to 
the  mantel  in  the  rooms  of  the  First  Consul  at  Malmaison. 
The  contractor  in  charge  of  this  work  had  sent  marble- 
cutters,  amongst  whom  had  slipped  in,  it  seems,  a  few 
miserable  wretches  employed  by  the  conspirators.  The  per- 
sons attached  to  the  First  Consul  were  incessantly  on  the 
alert,  and  exercised  the  greatest  watchfulness;  and  it  was 
observed  that  among  these  workmen  there  were  men  who 
pretended  to  work,  but  whose  air  and  manner  contrasted 
strongly  with  their  occupation.  These  suspicions  were 
unfortunately  only  too  well  founded ;  for  when  the  apart- 
ments had  been  made  ready  to  receive  the  First  Consul, 
and  just  as  he  was  on  the  eve  of  occupying  them,  some  one 
making  a  final  inspection  found  on  the  desk  at  which  he 
would  first  seat  himself,  a  snuff-box,  in  every  respect  like 
one  of  those  which  he  constantly  used.  It  was  thought 
at  first  that  this  box  really  belonged  to  him,  and  that 
it  had  been  forgotten  and  left  there  by  his  valet;  but 
doubts  inspired  by  the  suspicious  manner  of  a  few  of 
the  marble-cutters,  leading  to  further  investigation,  the 
tobacco  was  examined  and.  analyzed.  It  was  found  to 
be  poisoned. 

The  authors  of  this  perfidy  had,  it  is  said,  at  this  time, 


68  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

communication  with  other  conspirators,  who  engaged  to 
attempt  another  means  of  ridding  themselves  of  the  First 
Consul.  They  promised  to  attack  the  guard  of  the  chateau 
(Malmaison),  and  to  carry  off  by  force  the  chief  of  the 
government.  With  this  intention,  they  had  uniforms 
made  like  those  of  the  consular  guards,  who  then  stood 
sentinel,  day  and  night,  over  the  First  Consul,  and  followed 
him  on  horseback  in  his  excursions.  In  this  costume,  and 
by  the  aid  of  signals,  with  their  accomplices  (the  pretended 
marble-cutters)  on  the  inside,  they  could  easily  have  ap- 
proached and  mingled  with  the  guard,  who  were  fed  and 
quartered  at  the  chateau.  They  could  even  have  reached 
the  First  Consul,  and  carried  him  off.  However,  this  first 
project  was  abandoned  as  too  uncertain ;  and  the  conspira- 
tors flattered  themselves  that  they  would  succeed  in  their 
undertaking  more  surely,  and  with  less  danger,  by  taking 
advantage  of  the  frequent  journeys  of  the  First  Consul  to 
Paris.  By  means  of  their  disguise  they  planned  to  dis- 
tribute themselves  on  the  road,  among  the  guides  of  the 
escort,  and  massacre  them,  their  rallying-point  being  the 
quarries  of  Nanterre ;  but  their  plots  were  for  the  second 
time  foiled.  There  was  in  the  park  at  Malmaison  a  deep 
quarry ;  and  fears  being  entertained  that  they  would 
profit  by  it  to  conceal  themselves  therein,  and  exercise 
some  violence  against  the  First  Consul  on  one  of  his 
solitary  walks,  it  was  decided  to  secure  it  with  an  iron 
door. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  at  one  in  the  afternoon,  the 
First  Consul  went  in  state  to  the  Tuileries,  which  was  then 
called  the  Government  palace,  to  install  himself  there  with 
all  his  household.  With  him  were  his  two  colleagues ; 


INSTALLATION  IN   THE  TUILERIES.  69 

one  of  whom,  the  third  consul,1  was  to  occupy  the  same 
residence,  and  be  located  in  the  Pavilion  de  Flore.  The 
carriage  of  the  consuls  was  drawn  by  six  white  horses, 
which  the  Emperor  of  Germany  had  presented  to  the  con- 
queror of  Italy  after  the  signature  of  the  treaty  of  peace 
of  Campo-Formio.  The  saber  that  the  First  Consul  wore 
at  this  ceremony  was  magnificent,  and  had  also  been  pre- 
sented to  him  by  this  monarch  on  the  same  occasion. 

A  remarkable  thing  in  this  formal  change  of  residence 
was  that  the  acclamations  and  enthusiasm  of  the  crowd, 
and  even  of  the  most  distinguished  spectators,  who^  filled 
the  windows  of  rue  Thionville  and  of  the  quai  Voltaire, 
were  addressed  only  to  the  First  Consul,  and  to  the  young 
warriors  of  his  brilliant  staff,  who  were  yet  bronzed  by  the 
sun  of  the  Pyramids  or  of  Italy.  At  their  head  rode 
General  Lannes  2  and  Murat ;  the  first  easy  to  recognize  by 
his  bold  bearing  and  soldierly  manners ;  the  second  by  the 
same  qualities,  and  further  by  a  striking  elegance,  both  of 
costume  and  equipments.  His  new  title  of  brother-in-law 
of  the  First  Consul  contributed,  also,  greatly  to  fix  upon 
him  the  attention  of  all.  As  for  myself,  all  my  attention 
was  absorbed  by  the  principal  personage  of  the  cortege, 

1  Charles  Francis  Le  Brun,  the  third  consul,  was  born  in  Normandy, 
1739.    Translator  of  the  Iliad,  and  a  fine  writer.    Chief  Treasurer  in  1804. 
Duke  of  Piacenza,  1808.     Governor-general  of  Holland,  1810-1814.     Died 
1824.  —  TRANS. 

2  Jean  Lannes,  Duke  of  Montebello,  and  the  ablest  of  Napoleon's  mar- 
shals, was  born  at  Lectoure,  1769,  of  an  obscure  family,  and  was  a  dyer  by 
trade  when  he  volunteered  in  1792.    He  rose  to  be  colonel  by  1795,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  army  of  Italy  and  in  Egypt.    He  took  a  leading 
part  in  the  battles  of  Austerlitz,  Jena,  Eylau,  and  Friedland.    His  leg  was 
crushed  at  Essling,  1809,  by  a  cannon-ball,  of  which  he  died  soon  after.    He 
was  given  a  grand  funeral ;  and  his  remains,  brought  to  Paris,  were  deposited 
in  the  Pantheon.  —  TRANS. 


70  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

whom,  like  every  one  around  me,  I  regarded  with  something 
like  a  religious  reverence  ;  and  by  his  stepson,  the  son  of 
my  excellent  mistress,  himself  once  my  master,  —  the  brave, 
modest,  good  Prince  Eugene,  who  at  that  time,  however, 
was  not  yet  a  prince.  On  his  arrival  at  the  Tuileries,  the 
First  Consul  took  possession  at  once  of  the  apartments 
which  he  afterwards  occupied,  and  which  were  formerly 
part  of  the  royal  apartments.  These  apartments  consisted  of 
a  bed-chamber,  a  bathroom,  a  cabinet,  and  a  saloon,  in  which 
he  gave  audience  in  the  forenoon ;  of  a  second  saloon,  in 
which  were  stationed  his  aides-de-camp  on  duty,  and  which 
he  used  as  a  dining-room ;  and  also  a  very  large  ante- 
chamber. Madame  Bonaparte  had  her  separate  apartments 
on  the  ground  floor,  the  same  which  she  afterwards  occu- 
pied as  Empress.  Beneath  the  suite  of  rooms  occupied  by 
the  First  Consul  was  the  room  of  Bourrienne,  his  private 
secretary,  which  communicated  with  the  apartments  of  the 
First  Consul  by  means  of  a  private  staircase. 

Although  at  this  period  there  were  already  courtiers, 
there  was  not,  however,  yet  a  court,  and  the  etiquette  was 
exceedingly  simple.  The  First  Consul,  as  I  believe  I  have 
already  said,  slept  hi  the  same  bed  with  his  wife;  and  they 
lived  together,  sometimes  at  the  Tuileries,  sometimes  at 
Malmaison.  As  yet  there  were  neither  grand  marshal,  nor 
chamberlains,  nor  prefects  of  the  palace,  nor  ladies  of 
honor,  nor  lady  ushers,  nor  ladies  of  the  wardrobe,  nor 
pages.  The  household  of  the  First  Consul  was  composed 
only  of  M.  Pfister,  steward;  Venard,  chief  cook;  Galliot, 
and  Danger,  head  servants ;  Colin,  butler.  Ripeau  was 
librarian ;  Vigogne,  senior,  in  charge  of  the  stables.  Those 
attached  to  his  personal  service  were  Hambard,  head  valet ; 


RECEPTION  OF  TIIE  DIPLOMATIC  COEPS.  71 

Herbert,  ordinary  valet;  and  Roustan,  mameluke  of  the 
First  Consul.  There  were,  beside  these,  fifteen  persons  to 
discharge  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  household.  De  Bour- 
rienne  superintended  everything,  and  regulated  expenses, 
and,  although  very  strict,  won  the  esteem  and  affection  of 
every  one. 

He  was  kind,  obliging,  and  above  all  very  just;  and 
consequently  at  the  time  of  his  disgrace  the  whole  house- 
hold was  much  distressed.  As  for  myself,  I  retain  a 
sincerely  respectful  recollection  of  him ;  and  I  believe  that, 
though  he  has  had  the  misfortune  to  find  enemies  among 
the  great,  he  found  among  his  inferiors  only  grateful  hearts 
and  sincere  regrets. 

Some  days  after  this  installation,  there  was  at  the 
chateau  a  reception  of  the  diplomatic  corps.  It  will  be 
seen  from  the  details,  which  I  shall  give,  how  very  simple 
at  that  time  was  the  etiquette  of  what  they  already  called 
the  Court. 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  apartments  of 
Madame  Bonaparte,  situated,  as  I  have  just  said,  on  the 
ground  floor  adjoining  the  garden,  were  crowded  with 
people.  There  was  an  incredible  wealth  of  plumes,  dia- 
monds, and  dazzling  toilets.  The  crowd  was  so  great  that 
it  was  found  necessary  to  throw  open  the  bedroom  of 
Madame  Bonaparte,  as  the  two  saloons  were  so  full  there 
was  not  room  to  move. 

When,  after  much  embarrassment  and  difficulty,  every 
one  had  found  a  place  as  they  could,  Madame  Bonaparte 
was  announced,  and  entered,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  Talley- 
rand. She  wore  a  dress  of  white  muslin  with  short  sleeves, 
and  a  necklace  of  pearls.  Her  head  was  uncovered ;  and 


72  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  beautiful  braids  of  her  hair,  arranged  with  charming 
negligence,  were  held  in  place  by  a  tortoise-shell  comb. 
The  flattering  murmur  which  greeted  her  appearance  was 
most  grateful  to  her ;  and  never,  I  believe,  did  she  display 
more  grace  and  majesty. 

Talleyrand,1  giving  his  hand  to  Madame  Bonaparte, 
had  the  honor  of  presenting  to  her,  one  after  another,  the 
members  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps,  not  according  to  their 
names,  but  that  of  the  courts  they  represented.  He  then 
made  with  her  the  tour  of  the  two  saloons,  and  the  circuit 
of  the  second  was  only  half  finished  when  the  First  Consul 
entered  without  being  announced.  He  was  dressed  in  a 
very  plain  uniform,  with  a  tricolored  silk  scarf,  with 
fringes  of  the  same  around  his  waist.  He  wore  close- 
fitting  pantaloons  of  white  cassimere,  and  top-boots,  and 
held  his  hat  in  his  hand.  This  plain  dress,  in  the  midst 
of  the  embroidered  coats  loaded  with  cordons  and  orders 
worn  by  the  ambassadors  and  foreign  dignitaries,  presented 
a  contrast  as  striking  as  the  toilette  of  Madame  Bonaparte 
compared  with  that  of  the  other  ladies  present. 

Before  relating  how  I  exchanged  the  service  of  Madame 
Bonaparte  for  that  of  the  chief  of  state,  and  a  sojourn  at 
Malmaison  for  the  second  campaign  of  Italy,  I  think  I 


1  Charles  Maurice  de  Talleyrand-Perigord,  born  at  Paris,  1754,  was  de- 
scended from  the  counts  of  Perigord.  Rendered  lame  by  an  accident,  he  en- 
tered the  clergy,  and  in  1788  became  Bishop  of  Autun.  In  the  States-General 
he  sided  with  the  Revolution.  During  the  Reign  of  Terror  he  visited  Eng- 
land and  the  United  States.  Recalled  in  1796,  he  became  minister  of  foreign 
affairs  under  the  Directory,  which  post  he  retained  under  the  Consulate.  In 
1806  he  was  made  Prince  of  Benevento.  He  soon  fell  into  disgrace.  Sided 
with  the  Bourbons  in  1814,  and  was  minister  at  the  congress  of  Vienna,  presi- 
dent of  the  council,  and  minister  under  the  king.  Died  1838.  His  long- 
promised  memoirs  lately  published  are  disappointing.  —  TRANS. 


CONSTANT  PLAYS  BILLIARDS.  73 

should  pause  to  recall  one  or  two  incidents  which  belong 
to  the  time  spent  in  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte. 
She  loved  to  sit  up  late,  and,  when  almost  everybody 
else  had  retired,  to  play  a  game  of  billiards,  or  more  often 
of  backgammon.  It  happened  on  one  occasion  that,  having 
dismissed  every  one  else,  and  not  yet  being  sleepy,  she 
asked  if  I  knew  how  to  play  billiards,  and  upon  my  reply- 
ing in  the  affirmative,  requested  me  with  charming  grace 
to  play  with  her ;  and  I  had  often  afterwards  the  honor  of 
doing  so.  Although  I  had  some  skill,  I  always  managed 
to  let  her  beat  me,  which  pleased  her  exceedingly.  If  this 
was  flattery,  I  must  admit  it;  but  I  would  have  done  the 
same  towards  any  other  woman,  whatever  her  rank  and 
her  relation  to  me,  had  she  been  even  half  as  lovely  as 
was  Madame  Bonaparte. 

The  concierge  of  Malmaison,  who  possessed  the  entire 
confidence  of  his  employers,  among  other  means  of  pre- 
caution and  watchfulness  conceived  by  him  in  order  to 
protect  the  residence  and  person  of  the  First  Consul  from 
any  sudden  attack,  had  trained  for  the  chateau  several 
large  dogs,  among  which  were  two  very  handsome  New- 
foundlands. Work  on  the  improvements  of  Malmaison 
went  on  incessantly,  and  a  large  number  of  workmen 
lodged  there  at  night,  who  were  carefully  warned  not  to 
venture  out  alone ;  but  one  night  as  some  of  the  watch- 
dogs were  with  the  workmen  in  their  lodgings,  and  allowed 
themselves  to  be  caressed,  their  apparent  docility  encour- 
aged one  of  these  men  to  attempt  the  imprudence  of 
venturing  out.  Believing  that  the  surest  way  to  avoid 
danger  was  to  put  himself  under  the  protection  of  one  of 
those  powerful  animals,  he  took  one  of  them  with  him, 


74  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

and  in  a  very  friendly  manner  they  passed  out  of  the  door 
together ;  but  no  sooner  had  they  reached  the  outside,  than 
the  dog  sprang  upon  his  unfortunate  companion  and  threw 
him  down.  The  cries  of  the  poor  workman  brought  some 
of  the  guard,  who  ran  to  his  aid.  Just  in  time ;  for  the 
dog  was  holding  him  fast  to  the  ground,  and  had  seized 
him  by  the  throat.  He  was  rescued,  badly  wounded. 
Madame  Bonaparte,  when  she  was  informed  of  this  acci- 
dent, had  him  nursed  till  perfectly  cured,  and  gave  him 
a  handsome  gratuity,  but  recommended  him  to  be  more 
prudent  in  the  future. 

Every  moment  that  the  First  Consul  could  snatch  from 
affairs  of  state  he  passed  at  Malmaison.  The  evening  of 
each  decadi1  was  a  time  of  expectation  and  joy  at  the 
chateau.  Madame  Bonaparte  sent  domestics  on  horseback 
and  on  foot  to  meet  her  husband,  and  often  went  herself, 
accompanied  by  her  daughter  and  her  Malmaison  friends. 
When  not  on  duty,  I  went  myself  and  alone:  for  every- 
body felt  for  the  First  Consul  the  same  affection,  and  ex- 
perienced in  regard  to  him  the  same  anxiety ;  and  such  was 
the  bitterness  and  boldness  of  his  enemies  that  the  road, 
though  short,  between  Paris  and  Malmaison  was  full  of 
dangers  and  snares.  We  knew  that  many  plans  had  been 
laid  to  kidnap  him  on  this  road,  and  that  these  attempts 
might  be  renewed.  The  most  dangerous  spot  was  the 
quarries  of  Nanterre,  of  which  I  have  already  spoken;  so 
they  were  carefully  examined,  and  guarded  by  his  follow- 
ers each  day  on  which  the  First  Consul  was  to  pass,  and 

1  Under  the  Republic,  Sunday  was  abolished.  A  decade  of  ten  days  was 
substituted  for  the  week ;  and  the  decadi,  or  tenth  day,  took  the  place  of  the 
Sabbath.  —  TRANS. 


"  TUEY  WOULD  NOT  DARE."  75 

finally  the  depressions  nearest  the  road  were  filled  up. 
The  First  Consul  was  gratified  by  our  devotion  to  him, 
and  gave  us  proofs  of  his  satisfaction,  though  he  himself 
seemed  always  free  from  fear  or  uneasiness.  Very  often, 
indeed,  he  mildly  ridiculed  our  anxiety,  and  would  re- 
late very  seriously  to  the  good  Josephine  what  a  narrow 
escape  he  had  on  the  road ;  how  men  of  a  sinister  appear- 
ance had  shown  themselves  many  times  on  his  way;  how 
one  of  them  had  had  the  boldness  to  aim  at  him,  etc.  And 
when  he  saw  her  well  frightened,  he  would  burst  out  laugh- 
ing, give  her  some  taps  or  kisses  on  her  cheek  and  neck, 
saying  to  her,  "Have  no  fear,  little  goose;  they  would  not 
dare"  On  these  "days  of  furlough,"  as  he  called  them, 
he  was  occupied  more  with  his  private  affairs  than  with 
those  of  state ;  but  never  could  he  remain  idle.  He  would 
make  them  pull  down,  put  up  again,  build,  enlarge,  set  out, 
prune,  incessantly,  both  in  the  chateau  and  in  the  park, 
while  he  examined  the  bills  of  expenses,  estimated  receipts, 
and  ordered  economies.  Time  passed  quickly  in  all  these 
occupations ;  and  the  moment  soon  came  when  it  was  neces- 
sary to  return,  and,  as  he  expressed  it,  put  on  again  the 
yoke  of  misery. 


76  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  First  Consul  takes  the  author  into  his  service.  —  Forgotten.  —  His  chagrin. 

—  Consolation  offered  by  Madame  Bonaparte. — Reparation.  —  Departure 
of  Constant  for  the  headquarters  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Enthusiasm  of 
soldiers  setting  out  for  Italy.  —  The  author  rejoins  the  First  Consul.  — 
Hospice  of  Mt.  St.  Bernard. — The  passage.  —  The  mountain  sledge. — 
Humanity  of  the  monks,  and  generosity  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Passage  of 
Mt.  Albaredo.  —  Coup  d'oeil  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Capture  of  the  fort  of 
Bard.— Entry  into  Milan.  — Joy  and  confidence  of  the  Milanese. —The 
colleagues    of    Constant.  —  Hambard.  —  HeT>ert.  —  Roustan.  —  Ibrahim- 
Ali.  —  Anger  of  an  Arab.  —  The  poniard.  —  The  unexpected  bath.  —  Con- 
tinuation of  the  campaign  of  Italy. —  The  combat  of  Montebello.  —  The 
arrival  of  Desaix.  —  Long  interview  with  the  First  Consul.— Anger  of 
Desaix  against  the  English.  —  Battle  of  Marengo.  —Painful  uncertainty. 

—  Victory. — Death  of  Desaix.  —  Grief  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Aides-de- 
camp of  Desaix  become  aides-de-camp  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Messieurs 
Rapp  and  Savary.  — Tomb  of  Desaix  on  Mt.  St.  Bernard. 

TOWARDS  the  end  of  March,  1800,  five  or  six  months 
after  my  entrance  into  the  service  of  Madame  Bonaparte, 
the  First  Consul  while  at  dinner  one  day  regarded  me 
intently;  and  having  carefully  scrutinized  and  measured 
me  from  head  to  foot,  "  Young  man,"  said  he,  "  woulgl 
you  like  to  go  with  me  on  the  campaign  ? "  I  replied, 
with  much  emotion,  that  I  would  ask  nothing  better. 
"  Very  well,  then,  you  shall  go  with  me  !  "  and  on  rising 
from  the  table,  he  ordered  Pfister,  the  steward,  to  place 
my  name  on  the  list  of  the  persons  of  his  household 
who  would  accompany  him.  My  preparations  did  not 
require  much  time ;  for  I  was  delighted  with  the  idea  of 
being  attached  to  the  personal  service  of  so  great  a  man, 


CONSTANT  LEFT  BEHIND.  77 

and  in  imagination  saw  myself  already  beyond  the  Alps. 
But  the  First  Consul  set  out  without  me.  Pfister,  by 
a  defect  of  memory,  perhaps  intentional,  had  forgotten 
to  place  my  name  on  the  list.  I  was  in  despair,  and 
went  to  relate,  with  teal's,  my  misfortune  to  my  excellent 
mistress,  who  was  good  enough  to  endeavor  to  console  me, 
saying,  "  Well,  Constant,  everything  is  not  lost ;  you  will 
stay  with  me.  You  can  hunt  in  the  park  to  pass  the 
time ;  and  perhaps  the  First  Consul  may  yet  send  for  you." 
However,  Madame  Bonaparte  did  not  really  believe  this ; 
for  she  thought,  as  I  did,  although  out  of  kindness  she  did 
not  wish  to  say  this  to  me,  that  the  First  Consul  having 
changed  his  mind,  and  no  longer  wishing  my  services  on 
the  campaign,  had  himself  given  the  counter  orders.  How- 
ever, I  soon  had  proof  to  the  contrary.  In  passing  through 
Dijon,  on  his  way  to  Mt.  St.  Bernard,  the  First  Consul 
asked  for  me,  and  learning  that  they  had  forgotten  me, 
expressed  his  dissatisfaction,  and  directed  Bourrienne  to 
write  immediately  to  Madame  Bonaparte,  requesting  her  to 
send  me  on  without  delay. 

One  morning,  when  my  chagrin  was  more  acute  than 
ever,  Madame  Bonaparte  sent  for  me,  and  said,  holding 
Bourrienne's  letter  in  her  hand,  "  Constant,  since  you  have 
determined  to  quit  us  to  make  the  campaign,  you  may 
rejoice,  for  you  are  now  about  to  leave.  The  First  Consul 
has  sent  for  you.  Go  to  the  office  of  Maret,  and  ascertain 
if  he  will  not  soon  send  a  courier.  You  will  accompany 
him."  I  was  inexpressibly  delighted  at  this  good  news, 
and  did  not  try  to  conceal  my  pleasure.  "  You  are  very 
well  satisfied  to  leave  us,"  said  Madame  Bonaparte  with 
a  land  smile.  "  It  is  not  leaving  Madame,  but  joining 


78  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  First  Consul,  which  delights  me."  "  I  hope  so,"  replied 
she.  "  Go,  Constant ;  and  take  good  care  of  him."  If 
any  incentive  had  been  needed,  this  injunction  of  my  noble 
mistress  would  have  added  to  the  zeal  and  fidelity  with 
which  I  had  determined  to  discharge  my  new  duties. 
I  hurried  without  delay  to  the  office  of  Maret,1  secretary 
of  state,  who  already  knew  me,  and  had  shown  his  good-will 
for  me.  "Get  ready  at  once,"  said  he;  "a  courier  will 
set  out  this  evening  or  to-morrow  morning."  I  returned 
in  all  haste  to  Malmaison,  and  announced  to  Madame  Bo- 
naparte my  immediate  departure.  She  immediately  had  a 
good  postchaise  made  ready  for  me,  and  Thibaut  (for  that 
was  the  name  of  the  courier  I  was  to  accompany)  was 
directed  to  obtain  horses  for  me  along  the  route.  Maret 
gave  me  eight  hundred  francs  for  the  expenses  of  my  trip, 
which  sum,  entirely  unexpected  by  me,  filled  me  with  won- 
der, for  I  had  never  been  so  rich.  At  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  having  heard  from  Thibaut  that  everything  was 
ready,  I  went  to  his  house,  where  the  postchaise  awaited 
me,  and  we  set  out. 

I  traveled  very  comfortably,  sometimes  in  the  post- 
chaise, sometimes  on  horseback ;  I  taking  Thibaut's  place, 
and  he  mine.  I  expected  to  overtake  the  First  Consul  at 
Martigny ;  but  his  traveling  had  been  so  rapid,  that  I  caught 
up  with  him  only  at  the  convent  of  Mt.  St.  Bernard. 
Upon  our  route  we  constantly  passed  regiments  on  the 
march,  composed  of  officers  and  soldiers  who  were  hasten- 
ing to  rejoin  their  different  corps.  Their  enthusiasm  was 

1  Hugues  B.  Mare"t,  born  at  Dijon,  1763,  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Moniteur,  the  famous  official  newspaper,  became  secretary  of  state,  1804 ;  was 
created  Duke  of  Bassano ;  was  exiled  in  1815 ;  became  minister  again  after 
the  Revolution  of  1830;  died  1839.  —  TRANS. 


HOSPICE  OF  MT.   ST.   BEENARD.  79 

irrepressible,  —  those  who  had  made  the  campaign  of  Italy 
rejoiced  at  returning  to  so  fine  a  country ;  those  who  had 
not  yet  done  so  were  burning  with  impatience  to  see  the 
battlefields  immortalized  by  French  valor,  and  by  the 
genius  of  the  hero  who  still  marched  at  their  head.  All 
went  as  if  to  a  festival,  and  singing  songs  they  climbed  the 
mountains  of  Valais.  It  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning 
when  I  arrived  at  headquarters.  Pfister  announced  me; 
arid  I  found  the  general-in-chief  in  the  great  hall,  in  the 
basement  of  the  Hospice.  He  was  taking  breakfast, 
standing,  with  his  staff.  As  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  said, 
"  Here  you  are,  you  queer  fellow !  why  didn't  you  come 
with  me  ?  "  I  excused  myself  by  saying  that  to  my  great 
regret  I  had  received  a  counter  order,  or,  at  least,  they 
had  left  me  behind  at  the  moment  of  departure.  "Lose 
no  time,  my  friend ;  eat  quickly ;  we  are  about  to  start." 
From  this  moment  I  was  attached  to  the  personal  service 
of  the  First  Consul,  in  the  quality  of  ordinary  valet ; 
that  is  to  say,  in  my  turn.  This  duty  gave  me  little  to 
do;  Hambard,  the  head  valet  of  the  First  Consul,  being  in 
the  habit  of  dressing  him  from  head  to  foot. 

Immediately  after  breakfast  we  began  to  descend  the 
mountain,  many  sliding  down  on  the  snow,  very  much  as 
they  coast  at  the  garden  Beaujon,  from  top  to  bottom  of 
the  Montagues  Russes,  and  I  followed  their  example.  This 
they  called  "sledding."  The  general-in-chief  also  de- 
scended in  this  manner  an  almost  perpendicular  glacier. 
His  guide  was  a  young  countryman,  active  and  courageous, 
*to  whom  the  First  Consul  promised  a  sufficiency  for  the 
rest  of  his  days.  Some  young  soldiers  who  had  wandered 
off  into  the  snow  were  found,  almost  dead  with  cold,  by  the 


80  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

dogs  sent  out  by  the  monks,  and  carried  to  the  Hospice, 
where  they  received  every  possible  attention,  and  their 
lives  were  saved.  The  First  Consul  gave  substantial  proof 
of  his  gratitude  to  the  good  fathers  for  a  charity  so  useful 
and  generous.  Before  leaving  the  Hospice,  where  he  had 
found  tables  loaded  with  food  already  prepared  awaiting 
the  soldiers  as  soon  as  they  reached  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  he  gave  to  the  good  monks  a  considerable  sum 
of  money,  in  reward  for  the  hospitality  he  and  his  com- 
panions in  arms  had  received,  and  an  order  on  the  treasuiy 
for  an  annuity  in  support  of  the  convent.1 

The  same  day  we  climbed  Mount  Albaredo ;  but  as 
this  passage  was  impracticable  for  cavalry  and  artillery,  he 
ordered  them  to  pass  outside  the  town  of  Bard,  under  the 
batteries  of  the  fort.  The  First  Consul  had  ordered  that 
they  should  pass  it  at  night,  and  on  a  gallop ;  and  he  had 
straw  tied  around  the  wheels  of  the  caissons  and  on  the 
feet  of  the  horses,  but  even  these  precautions  were  not  al- 
together sufficient  to  prevent  the  Austrians  hearing  our 
troops.  The  cannon  of  the  fort  rained  grape-shot  inces- 
santly; but  fortunately  the  houses  of  the  town  sheltered 
our  soldiers  from  the  enemy's  guns,  and  more  than  half 
the  army  passed  without  much  loss.  I  was  with  the  house- 
hold of  the  First  Consul,  which  under  the  care  of  General 
Gardanne 2  flanked  the  fort. 

The  23d  of  May  we  forded  a  torrent  which  flowed  be- 

1  These  supplies  for  a  whole  army  had  been  sent  up  in  advance  by  the 
First  Consul.    The  hospitality  of  the  monks  consisted  in  dispensing  them,  and 
in  their  care  of  those  discovered  half-frozen  and  brought  in.  —  TRANS. 

2  Mathier  Claude  Gardanne,  born  at  Marseilles,  1766,  aide-de-camp  to  the 
Emperor,  1804 ;  distinguished  himself  at  Austerlitz,  Jena,  and  Eylau ;  embas^ 
sador  to  Persia,  1807 ;  died  1818.  —  TRANS. 


PASSAGE  OF  MT.  ALBAREDO.  81 

tween  the  town  and  the  fort,  with  the  First  Consul  at  our 
head,  and  then,  followed  by  General  Berthier  and  some 
other  officers,  took  the  path  over  the  Albaredo,  which 
overlooked  the  fort  and  the  town  of  Bard.  Directing  his 
field-glass  towards  the  hostile  batteries,  from  the  fire  of 
which  he  was  protected  only  by  a  few  bushes,  he  criti- 
cised the  dispositions  which  had  been  made  by  the  officer 
in  charge  of  the  siege  of  the  fort,  and  ordered  changes, 
which  he  said  would  cause  the  place  to  fall  into  our  hands 
in  a  short  time.  Freed  now  from  the  anxiety  which  this 
fort  had  caused  him,  and  which  he  said  had  prevented  his 
sleeping  the  two  days  he  had  passed  in  the  convent  of 
Maurice,  he  stretched  himself  at  the  foot  of  a  fir-tree  and 
took  a  refreshing  nap,  while  the  army  was  making  good  its 
passage.  Rising  from  this  brief  interval  of  repose,  he  de- 
scended the  mountain  and  continued  his  march  to  Ivree, 
where  we  passed  the  night. 

The  brave  General  Lannes,  who  commanded  the  ad- 
vance guard,  acted  somewhat  in  the  capacity  of  quarter- 
master, taking  possession  of  all  the  places  which  barred  the 
road.  Only  a  few  hours  before  we  entered  he  had  forced 
the  passage  of  Ivree. 

Such  was  this  miraculous  passage  of  St.  Bernard. 
Horses,  cannon,  caissons,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  army 
stores  of  all  kinds,  everything,  in  fact,  was  drawn  or  car- 
ried over  glaciers  which  appeared  inaccessible,  and  by  paths 
which  seemed  impracticable  even  for  a  single  man.  The 
Austrian  cannon  were  not  more  successful  than  the  snow 
in  stopping  the  French  army.  So  true  is  it  that  the  genius 
and  perseverance  of  the  First  Consul  were  communicated, 
so  to  speak,  to  the  humblest  of  his  soldiers,  and  inspired 


82  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

them  with  a  courage  and  a  strength,  the  results  of  which 
will  appear  fabulous  to  posterity. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  which  was  the  day  after  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Ticino,  and  the  day  of  our  entrance  into  Milan, 
the  First  Consul  learned  that  the  fort  of  Bard  had  been 
taken  the  evening  before,  showing  that  his  dispositions  had 
led  to  a  quick  result,  and  the  road  of  communication  by 
the  St.  Bernard  was  now  free  from  all  obstructions.  The 
First  Consul  entered  Milan  without  having  met  much  re- 
sistance, the  whole  population  turned  out  on  his  entrance, 
and  he  was  received  with  a  thousand  acclamations.  The 
confidence  of  the  Milanese  redoubled  when  they  learned 
that  he  had  promised  the  members  of  the  assembled  clergy 
to  maintain  the  catholic  worship  and  clergy  as  already  es- 
tablished, and  had  compelled  them  to  take  the  oath  of 
fidelity  to  the  cisalpine  republic. 

The  First  Consul  remained  several  days  in  this  capi- 
tal ;  and  I  had  time  to  form  a  more  intimate  acquaintance 
with  my  colleagues,  who  were,  as  I  have  said,  Hambard, 
Roustan,  and  Hebert.  We  relieved  each  other  every 
twenty-four  hours,  at  noon  precisely.  As  has  always  been 
my  rule  when  thrown  into  association  with  strangers,  I 
observed,  as  closely  as  circumstances  permitted,  the  char- 
acter and  temper  of  my  comrades,  so  that  I  could  regu- 
late my  conduct  in  regard  to  them,  and  know  in  advance 
what  I  might  have  to  fear  or  hope  from  association  with 
them. 

Hambard  had  an  unbounded  devotion  for  the  First  Con- 
sul, whom  he  had  followed  to  Egypt,  but  unfortunately  his 
temper  was  gloomy  and  misanthropic,  which  made  him  ex- 
tremely sullen  and  disagreeable ;  and  the  favor  which  Rons- 


HAMBAED.  83 

tan  enjoyed  perhaps  contributed  to  increase  this  gloomy 
disposition.  In  a  kind  of  mania  he  imagined  himself  to  be 
the  object  of  a  special  espionage;  and  when  his  hours  of 
service  were  over,  he  would  shut  himself  up  in  his  room, 
and  pass  in  mournful  solitude  the  whole  time  he  was  not 
on  duty.  The  First  Consul,  when  in  good  humor,  would 
joke  with  him  upon  this  savage  disposition,  calling  him 
Mademoiselle  Hambard.  "  Ah,  well,  what  were  you  doing 
there  in  your  room  all  by  yourself?  Doubtless  you  were 
reading  some  poor  romances,  or  some  old  books  about 
princesses  carried  off  and  kept  under  guard  by  a  barbarous 
giant."  To  which  Hambard  would  sullenly  reply,  "  Gen- 
eral, you  no  doubt  know  better  than  I  what  I  was  doing," 
referring  in  this  way  to  the  spies  by  which  he  believed 
himself  to  be  always  surrounded.  Notwithstanding  this 
unfortunate  disposition,  the  First  Consul  felt  very  kindly 
to  him.  When  the  Emperor  went  to  camp  at  Boulogne, 
Hambard  refused  to  accompany  him ;  and  the  Emperor  gave 
him,  as  a  place  of  retreat,  the  charge  of  the  palace  of 
Meudon.  There  he  showed  unmistakable  symptoms  of  in- 
sanity, and  his  end  was  lamentable.  During  the  Hundred 
Days,  after  a  conversation  with  the  Emperor,  he  threw 
himself  against  a  carving-knife  with  such  violence  that 
the  blade  came  out  two  inches  behind  his  back.  As  it 
was  believed  at  this  time  that  I  had  incurred  the  anger 
of  the  Emperor,  the  rumor  went  abroad  that  it  was  I 
who  had  committed  suicide,  and  this  tragic  death  was 
announced  in  several  papers  as  mine. 

Hebert,  ordinary  valet,  was  a  very  agreeable  young 
fellow,  but  very  timid,  and  was,  like  all  the  rest  of  the 
household,  devotedly  attached  to  the  First  Consul.  It 


84  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

happened  one  day  in  Egypt  that  the  latter,  who  had 
never  been  able  to  shave  himself  (it  was  I  who  taught 
him  how  to  shave  himself,  as  I  shall  relate  elsewhere  at 
length),  called  Hebert  to  shave  him,  in  the  absence  of 
Hambard,  who  ordinarily  discharged  that  duty.  As  it  had 
sometimes  happened  that  Hebert,  on  account  of  his  great 
timidity,  had  cut  his  master's  chin,  on  that  day  the  latter, 
who  held  a  pair  of  scissors  in  his  hand,  when  Hebert 
approached  him,  holding  his  razor,  said,  "  Take  care,  you 
scamp ;  if  you  cut  me,  I  will  stick  my  scissors  into  your 
stomach."  This  threat,  made  with  an  air  of  pretended 
seriousness,  but  which  was  in  fact  only  a  jest,  such  as  I 
have  seen  the  Emperor  indulge  in  a  hundred  times,  pro- 
duced such  an  impression  on  Hebert,  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  him  to  finish  his  work.  He  was  seized  with  a 
convulsive  trembling,  the  razor  fell  from  his  hand,  and 
the  general-in-chief  in  vain  bent  his  neck,  and  said  to  him 
many  times,  laughing  "  Come,  finish,  you  scamp."  Not 
only  was  Hebert  unable  to  complete  his  task  that  day, 
but  from  that  time  he  had  to  renounce  the  duty  of  barber. 
The  Emperor  did  not  like  this  excessive  timidity  in  the 
servants  of  his  household;  but  this  did  not  prevent  him, 
when  he  restored  the  castle  of  Rambouillet,  from  giving 
to  Hebert  the  place  of  concierge  which  he  requested. 

Roustan,  so  well  known  under  the  name  of  Mameluke, 
belonged  to  a  good  family  of  Georgia ;  carried  off  at  the 
age  of  six  or  seven,  and  taken  to  Cairo,  he  was  there 
brought  up  among  the  young  slaves  who  attended  upon  the 
mamelukes,  until  he  should  be  of  sufficient  age  to  enter 
this  warlike  militia.  The  Sheik  of  Cairo,  in  making  a 
present  to  General  Bonaparte  of  a  magnificent  Arab  horse, 


EOUSTAN.  85 

had  given  him  at  the  same  time  Roustan  and  Ibrahim,  an- 
other mameluke,  who  was  afterwards  attached  to  the  ser- 
vice of  Madame  Bonaparte,  under  the  name  of  Ali.  It  is 
well  known  that  Roustan  became  an  indispensable  accom- 
paniment on  all  occasions  when  the  Emperor  appeared  in 
public.  He  was  with  him  in  all  his  expeditions,  in  all 
processions,  and,  which  was  especially  to  his  honor,  in  all  his 
battles.  In  the  brilliant  staff  which  followed  the  Em- 
peror he  shone  more  than  all  others  by  the  richness  of  his 
Oriental  costume ;  and  his  appearance  made  a  decided  im- 
pression, especially  upon  the  common  people  and  in  the 
provinces.  He  was  believed  to  have  great  influence  with 
the  Emperor;  because,  as  credulous  people  said,  Roustan 
had  saved  his  master's  life  by  throwing  himself  between 
him  and  the  saber  of  an  enemy  who  was  about  to  strike 
him.  I  think  that  this  belief  was  unfounded,  and  that  the 
especial  favor  he  enjoyed  was  due  to  the  habitual  kindness 
of  his  Majesty  towards  every  one  in  his  service.  Besides, 
this  favor  affected  in  no  wise  his  domestic  relations;  for 
when  Roustan,  who  had  married  a  young  and  pretty 
French  girl,  a  certain  Mademoiselle  Douville,  whose  father 
was  valet  to  the  Empress  Josephine,  was  reproached  by 
certain  journals  in  1814  and  1815  with  not  having  fol- 
lowed to  the  end  of  his  fortunes  the  man  for  whom  he 
had  always  expressed  such  intense  devotion,  Roustan  re- 
plied that  the  family  ties  which  he  had  formed  prevented 
his  leaving  France,  and  that  he  could  not  destroy  the  hap- 
piness of  his  own  household. 

Ibrahim  took  the  name  of  Ali  when  he  passed  into  the 
service  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  He  was  of  more  than 
Arabic  ugliness,  and  had  a  wicked  look.  I  recall  in  this 


86  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

connection  a  little  incident  which  took  place  at  Malmaison, 
which  will  give  an  idea  of  his  character.  One  day,  while 
playing  on  the  lawn  of  the  chateau,  I  unintentionally  threw 
him  down  while  running ;  and  furious  at  his  fall,  he  rose 
up,  drew  his  poniard,  which  he  always  wore,  and  dashed 
after  me  to  strike  me.  I  laughed  at  first,  like  every  one 
else,  at  the  accident,  and  amused  myself  by  making  him 
run ;  but  warned  by  the  cries  of  my  comrades,  and  looking 
back  to  see  how  close  he  was,  I  perceived  at  the  same  time 
his  dagger  and  his  rage.  I  stopped  at  once,  and  planted 
my  foot,  with  my  eye  fixed  upon  his  poniard,  and  was  for- 
tunate enough  to  avoid  his  blow,  which,  however,  grazed 
my  breast.  Furious  in  my  turn,  as  may  be  imagined,  I 
seized  him  by  his  flowing  pantaloons,  and  pitched  him  ten 
feet  into  the  stream  of  Malmaison,  which  was  barely  two 
feet  deep.  The  plunge  brought  him  at  once  to  his  senses ; 
and  besides,  his  poniard  had  gone  to  the  bottom,  which  made 
him  much  less  dangerous.  But  in  his  disappointment  he 
yelled  so  loudly  that  Madame  Bonaparte  heard  him ;  and  as 
she  had  quite  a  fancy  for  her  mameluke,  I  was  sharply 
scolded.  However,  this  poor  AH  was  of  such  an  unsocial 
temperament  that  he  got  into  difficulties  with  almost  every 
one  in  the  household,  and  at  last  was  sent  away  to  Fon- 
tainebleau,  to  take  the  place  of  man-servant  there. 

I  now  return  to  our  campaign.  On  the  13th  of  June 
the  First  Consul  spent  the  night  at  Torre-di-Galifolo,  where 
he  established  his  headquarters.  From  the  day  of  our  entry 
into  Milan  the  advance  of  the  army  had  not  slackened ; 
General  Murat  had  passed  the  Po,  and  taken  possession  of 
Piacenza;  and  General  Lannes,  still  pushing  forward  with 
his  brave  advance  guard,  had  fought  a  bloody  battle  at 


MONTEBELLO.  87 

Montebcllo,  a  name  which,  he  afterwards  rendered  illus- 
trious by  bearing  it.  The  recent  arrival  of  General  Desaix, 
who  had  just  returned  from  Egypt,  completed  the  joy  of 
the  general-iii-chief,  and  also  added  much  to  the  confidence 
of  the  soldiers,  by  whom  the  good  and  modest  Desaix l  was 
adored.  The  First  Consul  received  him  with  the  frankest 
and  most  cordial  friendship,  and  they  remained  together 
three  consecutive  hours  in  private  conversation.  At  the 
end  of  this  conference,  an  order  of  the  day  announced  to 
the  army  that  General  Desaix  would  take  command  of 
the  division  Boudet.  I  heard  some  persons  in  the  suite 
of  General  Desaix  say  that  his  patience  and  evenness  of 
temper  were  rudely  tried  during  his  voyage,  by  contrary 
winds,  forced  delays,  the  ennui  of  quarantine,  and  above 
all  by  the  bad  conduct  of  the  English,  who  had  kept  him 
for  some  time  a  prisoner  in  their  fleet,  in  sight  of  the 
shores  of  France,  although  he  bore  a  passport,  signed  by 
the  English  authorities  in  Egypt,  in  consequence  of  the 
capitulation  which  had  been  mutually  agreed  upon.  Con- 
sequently his  resentment  against  them  was  very  ardent ; 
and  he  regretted  much,  he  said,  that  the  enemy  he  was 
about  to  fight  was  not  the  English. 

In  spite  of  the  simplicity  of  his  tastes  and  habits,  no 
one  was  more  ambitious  of  glory  than  this  brave  general. 
All  his  rage  against  the  English  was  caused  by  the  fear 
that  he  might  not  arrive  in  time  to  gather  new  laurels. 
He  did  indeed  arrive  in  time,  but  only  to  find  a  glorious 
death,  alas,  so  premature ! 

1  Louis  Charles  Antoine  Desaix,  born  in  Auvergne,  1768,  distinguished 
himself  in  the  army  of  the  Rhine,  defended  Kohl  1798,  accompanied  Bona- 
parte to  Egypt,  where  he  acquired  from  the  natives  the  title  of  "  Sultan  the 
Just,"  commanded  two  divisions  at  Marengo,  which  victory  was  due  to  him, 
and  was  killed  in  that  battle,  aged  thirty-two.  —  TRANS. 


88  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

It  was  on  the  fourteenth  that  the  celebrated  battle  of 
Marengo  took  place,  which  began  early  in  the  morning,  and 
lasted  throughout  the  day.  I  remained  at  headquarters 
with  all  the  household  of  the  First  Consul,  where  we  were 
almost  within  range  of  the  cannon  on  the  battlefield. 
Contradictory  news  constantly  came,  one  report  declaring 
the  battle  completely  lost,  the  next  giving  us  the  victory. 
At  one  time  the  increase  in  the  number  of  our  wounded, 
and  the  redoubled  firing  of  the  Austrian  cannon,  made  us 
believe  that  all  was  lost ;  and  then  suddenly  came  the  news 
that  this  apparent  falling  back  was  only  a  bold  maneuver 
of  the  First  Consul,  and  that  a  charge  of  General  Desaix 
had  gained  the  battle.  But  the  victory  was  bought  at  a 
price  dear  to  France  and  to  the  heart  of  the  First  Consul. 
Desaix,  struck  by  a  bullet,  fell  dead  on  the  field ;  and  the 
grief  of  his  soldiers  serving  only  to  exasperate  their  cour- 
age, they  routed,  by  a  bayonet  charge,  the  enemy,  who  were 
already  shaken  by  the  brilliant  cavalry  charge  of  General 
Kellermann.  The  First  Consul  slept  upon  the  field  of 
battle,  and  notwithstanding  the  decisive  victory  that  he  had 
gained,  was  very  sad,  and  said  that  evening,  in  the  presence 
of  Hambard  and  myself,  many  things  which  showed  the 
profound  grief  he  experienced  in  the  death  of  General 
Desaix.  He  said,  "France  has  lost  one  of  her  bravest 
defenders,  and  I  one  of  my  best  friends;  no  one  knew 
how  much  courage  there  was  in  the  heart  of  Desaix,  nor 
how  much  genius  in  his  head."  He  thus  solaced  his  grief 
by  making  to  each  and  all  a  eulogy  on  the  hero  who  had 
died  on  the  field  of  honor. 

"My  brave  Desaix,"  he  further  said,  "always  wished 
to  die  thus;"  and  then  added,  almost  with  tears  in  his 


DEATH  OF  DESAIX.  89 

eyes,  "but  ought  death  to  have  been  so  prompt  to  grant 
his  wish  ?  " 

There  was  not  a  soldier  in  our  victorious  army  who 
did  not  share  so  just  a  sorrow.  Rapp  and  Savary,  the 
aides-de-camp  of  Desaix,  remained  plunged  in  the  most 
despairing  grief  beside  the  body  of  their  chief,  whom  they 
called  their  father,  rather  to  express  his  unfailing  kind- 
ness to  them  than  the  dignity  of  his  character.  Out  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  his  friend,  the  general-in-chief, 
although  his  staff  was  full,  added  these  two  young  officers 
in  the  quality  of  aides-de-camp. 

Commandant1  Rapp  (for  such  only  was  his  rank  at 
that  time)  was  then,  as  he  has  ever  been,  good,  full  of 
courage,  and  universally  beloved.  His  frankness,  which 
sometimes  bordered  on  brusqueness,  pleased  the  Emperor; 
and  I  have  many  times  heard  him  speak  in  praise  of  his 
aide-de-camp,  whom  he  always  styled,  "My  brave  Rapp." 
Rapp  was  not  lucky  in  battle,  for  he  rarely  escaped  without 
a  wound.  While  thus  anticipating  events,  I  will  mention 
that  in  Russia,  on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of  La  Moskwa,  the 
Emperor  said,  in  my  presence,  to  General  Rapp,  who  had 
just  arrived  from  Dantzic,  "  See  here,  my  brave  fellow,  we 
will  beat  them  to-morrow,  but  take  great  care  of  yourself. 
You  are  not  a  favorite  of  fortune."  "  That  is,"  said  the 
general,  "  the  premium  to  be  paid  on  the  business,  but  I 
shall  none  the  less  on  that  account  do  my  best." 

Savary  manifested  for  the  First  Consul  the  same  fervid 
zeal  and  unbounded  devotion  which  had  attached  him  to 
General  Desaix ;  and  if  he  lacked  any  of  the  qualities  of 
General  Rapp,  it  was  certainly  not  bravery.  Of  all  the 

1  About  equivalent  to  major.  —  TRANS. 


90         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

men  who  surrounded  the  Emperor,  no  one  was  more  abso- 
lutely devoted  to  his  slightest  wishes.  In  the  course  of 
these  memoirs,  I  shall  doubtless  have  occasion  to  recall 
instances  of  this  unparalleled  enthusiasm,  for  which  the 
Duke  de  Rovigo1  was  magnificently  rewarded;  but  it  is 
just  to  say  that  he  did  not  bite  the  hand  which  rewarded 
him,  and  that  he  gave  to  the  end,  and  even  after  the  end, 
of  his  old  master  (for  thus  he  loved  to  style  the  Emperor) 
an  example  of  gratitude  which  has  been  imitated  by  few. 

A  government  decree,  in  the  month  of  June  follow- 
ing, determined  that  the  body  of  Desaix  should  be  carried 
to  the  Hospice  of  St.  Bernard,  and  that  a  tomb  should  be 
erected  on  that  spot,  in  the  country  where  he  had  covered 
himself  with  immortal  glory,  as  a  testimonial  to  the  grief 
of  France,  and  especially  that  of  the  First  Consul. 

NOTE  BY  CONSTANT.  —  Two  memorials  have  been  erected  in  Paris  to  the 
brave  Desaix,  a  statue  on  the  Place  des  Victoires,  and  a  bust  in  the  Place 
Dauphine.  The  statue  affects  a  theatrical  pose,  which  is  little  in  accord 
with  the  natural  manners  and  quiet  bearing  of  the  original.  Besides,  the 
complete  nudity,  poorly  veiled  by  the  classical  affectation  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  sword  belt,  shocks  all  who  see  it,  and  gives  rise  to  poor  jests. 
The  great  conqueror  of  "Waterloo  was  represented,  while  living,  in  Hyde 
Park  as  a  colossal  Achilles ;  and  his  Grace  (that  is  to  say  the  statue  of  his 
Grace)  is  executed  in  such  a  manner  that  the  curious  do  not  lose  a  single 
outline  or  a  single  muscle  of  his  heroic  person.  That  nothing  should  be 
wanting  to  this  parody,  it  was  the  English  ladies,  who  are  so  punctilious  in  all 
matters  of  decency  and  propriety,  who  raised  this  monument  to  the  fame 
of  my  lord  duke. 

To  return  to  Dosaix  (and  it  is  a  return  from  a  great  distance),  the  statue 

1  Savary,  Duke  of  Rovigo,  born  1774,  at  Marc  in  Champaigne,  served  with 
Desaix  in  Egypt,  and  was  with  him  at  Marengo.  In  1804  he  was  president  of 
the  court  martial  which  tried  the  Duke  D'Enghien.  At  Friedland  he  was 
created  Duke  of  Rovigo.  Embassador  to  Russia  1807,  sent  to  Spain  1808, 
minister  of  police  1810.  He  wished  to  accompany  the  Emperor  to  St.  Helena, 
but  was  imprisoned  at  Malta  and  condemned  to  death.  He  was,  however,  par- 
doned, and  died  1833.  —  TRANS. 


SAVAET  AND  PICHEGRU.  91 

raised  to  him,  in  the  Place  des  Victoires,  was  removed  under  the  Empire 
by  order  of  the  government.  As  to  the  bust  that  one  still  sees  in  the  Place 
Dauphine,  it  would  be  difficult  to  conceive  anything  meaner,  more  blackened 
with  smoke,  or  more  neglected.  Thus  they  have  treated  the  figure  of  Desaix. 
On  the  other  hand,  Pichegru 3  has  his  statues  of  bronze. 

1  Charles  Pichegru,  born  at  Arbois,  1761 ;  fellow-student  and  afterwards  tutor 
to  Napoleon  at  Brienne.  In  1793  he  commanded  the  army  of  the  Rhine,  and  gained 
many  battles.  He  negotiated  with  the  Prince  of  Cond6  for  the  restoration  of  the 
Bourbons,  and  was  arrested  and  imprisoned  September,  1797.  He  escaped  to  England. 
In  1803  he  returned  secretly  to  Paris  with  George  Cadoudal.  He  was  arrested,  and 
soon  afterwards  was  found  dead  in  prison. — TKAUS. 


92  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Return  to  Milan  en  route  to  Paris.  —  The  singer  Marches!  and  the  First  Con- 
sul.—  An  impertinence  and  some  days  in  prison. — Madame  Grassini.  — 
Return  to  France  by  way  of  Mont  Cenis.  —  Triumphal  Arches.  —  Retinue 
of  young  girls.  —  Entrance  into  Lyons.  —  Couthon  and  the  destroyers.  — 
The  First  Consul  orders  the  rebuilding  of  the  Place  Belcour.  —  The  car- 
riage upset.  — Illuminations  at  Paris.  —  Kleber.  —  Calumnies  against  the 
First  Consul.  —  Constant's  horse  falls.  —  Kindness  of  the  First  Consul 
and  Madame  Bonaparte  to  Constant. — Generosity  of  the  First  Consul. — 
Emotion  of  the  author.  —  The  First  Consul  outrageously  misrepresented. 
—  The  First  Consul,  Jerome  Bonaparte,  and  Colonel  Lacuee.  —  The  First 

Consul's  fancy  for  Madame  D .  —  Jealousy  of  Madame  Bonaparte  and 

precautions  of  the  First  Consul.  —  Indiscreet  curiosity  of  a  chambermaid. 
— Threats  and  compulsory  discretion.  —  The  little  house  in  the  "Alle'e 
des  Veuves."  —  The  First  Consul's  attentions  to  his  wife.  —  Morals  of  the 
First  Consul,  and  his  manner  towards  women. 

THE  victory  of  Marengo  had  rendered  the  conquest  of 
Italy  certain.  Therefore  the  First  Consul,  thinking  his 
presence  more  necessary  at  Paris  than  at  the  head  of  his 
army,  gave  the  command  in  chief  to  General  Massdna,  and 
made  preparations  to  repass  the  mountains.  On  our  return 
to  Milan,  the  First  Consul  was  received  with  even  more 
enthusiasm  than  on  his  first  visit. 

The  establishment  of  a  republic  was  in  accordance 
with  the  wishes  of  a  large  number  of  the  Milanese;  and 
they  called  the  First  Consul  their  Savior,  since  he  had 
delivered  them  from  the  yoke  of  the  Austrians.  There 
was,  however,  a  party  who  detested  equally  these  changes, 
the  French  army  which  was  the  instrument  of  them,  and 
the  young  chief  who  was  the  author.  In  this  party  figured 
a  celebrated  artist,  the  singer  MarchesL 


SIGNOR  MAECHESI.  93 

During  our  former  visit,  the  First  Consul  had  sent  for 
him;  and  the  musician  had  waited  to  be  entreated,  acting 
as  if  he  were  much  inconvenienced,  and  at  last  presented 
himself  with  all  the  importance  of  a  man  whose  dignity 
had  been  offended.  The  very  simple  costume  of  the  First 
Consul,  his  short  stature,  thin  visage,  and  poor  figure  were 
not  calculated  to  make  much  of  an  impression  on  the  hero 
of  the  theater ;  and  after  the  general-in-chief  had  welcomed 
him  cordially,  and  very  politely  asked  him  to  sing  an  air,  he 
replied  by  this  poor  pun,  uttered  in  a  tone  the  impertinence 
of  which  was  aggravated  by  his  Italian  accent:  "Signor 
general,  if  it  is  a  good  air  which  you  desire,  you  will  find 
an  excellent  one  in  making  a  little  tour  of  the  garden." 
The  Signor  Marchesi  was  for  this  fine  speech  immediately 
put  out  of  the  door,  and  the  same  evening  an  order  was 
sent  committing  the  singer  to  prison.  On  our  return  the 
First  Consul,  whose  resentment  against  Marchesi  the  can- 
non of  Marengo  had  doubtless  assuaged,  and  who  thought 
besides  that  the  penance  of  the  musician  for  a  poor  joke 
had  been  sufficiently  long,  sent  for  him  again,  and  asked 
him  once  more  to  sing ;  Marchesi  this  time  was  modest  and 
polite,  and  sang  in  a  charming  manner.  After  the  concert 
the  First  Consul  approached  him,  pressed  his  hand  warmly, 
and  complimented  him  in  the  most  affectionate  manner;  and 
from  that  moment  peace  was  concluded  between  the  two 
powers,  and  Marchesi  sang  only  praises  of  the  First 
Consul. 

At  this  same  concert  the  First  Consul  was  struck  with 
the  beauty  of  a  famous  singer,  Madame  Grassini.  He 
found  her  by  no  means  cruel,  and  at  the  end  of  a  few 
hours  the  conqueror  of  Italy  counted  one  conquest  more. 


94  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  following  day  she  breakfasted  with  the  First  Consul 
and  General  Berthier  in  the  chamber  of  the  First  Consul. 
General  Berthier  was  ordered  to  provide  for  the  journey 
of  Madame  Grassini,  who  was  carried  to  Paris,  and  attached 
to  the  concert-room  of  the  court. 

The  First  Consul  left  Milan  on  the  24th;  and  we 
returned  to  France  by  the  route  of  Mont  Cenis,  traveling 
as  rapidly  as  possible.  Everywhere  the  Consul  was  re- 
ceived with  an  enthusiasm  difficult  to  describe.  Arches  of 
triumph  had  been  erected  at  the  entrance  of  each  town,  and 
in  each  canton  a  deputation  of  leading  citizens  came  to 
make  addresses  to  and  compliment  him.  Long  ranks  of 
young  girls,  dressed  in  white,  crowned  with  flowers,  bear- 
ing flowers  in  their  hands,  and  throwing  flowers  into  the 
carriage  of  the  First  Consul,  made  themselves  his  only 
escort,  surrounded  him,  followed  him,  and  preceded  him, 
until  he  had  passed,  or  as  soon  as  he  set  foot  on  the  ground 
wherever  he  stopped. 

The  journey  was  thus,  throughout  the  whole  route,  a 
perpetual  fete ;  and  at  Lyons  it  amounted  to  an  ovation,  in 
which  the  whole  town  turned  out  to  meet  him.  He  en- 
tered, surrounded  by  an  immense  crowd,  amid  the  most 
noisy  demonstrations,  and  alighted  at  the  hotel  of  the  Ce- 
lestins.  In  the  Reign  of  Terror  the  Jacobins  had  spent  their 
fury  on  the  town  of  Lyons,  the  destruction  of  which  they 
had  sworn ;  and  the  handsome  buildings  which  ornamented 
the  Place  Belcour  had  been  leveled  to  the  ground,  the 
hideous  cripple  Couthon,1  at  the  head  of  the  vilest  mob  of 

1  Georges  Couthon,  born  at  Orsay  in  Auvergne,  1756.  He  was  chief  judge 
at  Clermont,  also  member  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  and  the  Convention, 
and  voted  for  the  death  of  the  king.  A  friend  of  Robespierre,  he  perished 
With  him,  July  28,  1794.  — TRANS, 


THE  FIRST  CONSUL'S  CAREIAGE  UPSETS.  95 

the  clubs,  striking  the  first  blow  with  the  hammer.  The 
First  Consul  detested  the  Jacobins,  who,  on  their  side,  hated 
and  feared  him ;  and  his  constant  care  was  to  destroy  their 
work,  or,  in  other  words,  to  restore  the  ruins  with  which 
they  had  covered  France.  He  thought  then,  and  justly  too, 
that  he  could  not  better  respond  to  the  affection  of  the 
people  of  Lyons,  than  by  promoting  with  all  his  power  the 
rebuilding  of  the  houses  of  the  Place  Belcour ;  and  before 
his  departure  he  himself  laid  the  first  stone.  The  town  of 
Dijon  gave  the  First  Consul  a  reception  equally  as  bril- 
liant. 

Between  Villeneuve-le-Roi  and  Sens,  at  the  descent  to 
the  bridge  of  Montereau,  while  the  eight  horses,  lashed 
to  a  gallop,  were  bearing  the  carriage  rapidly  along  (the 
First  Consul  already  traveled  like  a  king),  the  tap  of  one 
of  the  front  wheels  came  off.  The  inhabitants  who  lined 
the  route,  witnessing  this  accident,  and  foreseeing  what 
would  be  the  result,  used  every  effort  to  stop  the  pos- 
tilions, but  did  not  succeed,  and  the  carriage  was  violently 
upset.  The  First  Consul  received  no  injury ;  General 
Berthier  had  his  face  slightly  scratched  by  the  windows, 
which  were  broken;  and  the  two  footmen,  who  were  on 
the  steps,  were  thrown  violently  to  a  distance,  and  badly 
wounded.  The  First  Consul  got  out,  or  rather  was  pulled 
out,  through  one  of  the  doors.  This  occurrence  made  no 
delay  in  his  journey ;  he  took  his  seat  in  another  carriage 
immediately,  and  reached  Paris  with  no  other  accident. 
The  night  of  the  2d  of  July,  he  alighted  at  the  Tuileries ; 
and  the  next  day,  as  soon  as  the  news  of  his  return  had 
been  circulated  in  Paris,  the  entire  population  filled  the 
courts  and  the  garden.  They  pressed  around  the  windows 


96         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  the  pavilion  of  Flora,  in  the  hope  of  catching  a  glimpse  of 
the  savior  of  France,  the  liberator  of  Italy. 

That  evening  there  was  no  one,  either  rich  or  poor,  who 
did  not  take  delight  in  illuminating  his  house  or  his  garret. 
It  was  only  a  short  time  after  his  arrival  at  Paris  that  the 
First  Consul  learned  of  the  death  of  General  Kleber.1  The 
poniard  of  Suleyman  had  slain  this  great  captain  the  same 
day  that  the  cannon  of  Marengo  laid  low  another  hero  of 
the  army  of  Egypt.  This  assassination  caused  the  First 
Consul  the  most  poignant  grief,  of  which  I  was  an  eye- 
witness, and  to  which  I  can  testify;  and,  nevertheless, 
his  calumniators  have  dared  to  say  that  he  rejoiced  at 
an  event,  which,  even  considered  apart  from  its  political 
relations,  caused  him  to  lose  a  conquest  which  had  cost  him 
so  much,  and  France  so  much  blood  and  expense.  Other 
miserable  wretches,  still  more  stupid  and  more  infamous, 
have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  fabricate  and  spread  abroad 
the  report  that  the  First  Consul  had  himself  ordered  the 
assassination  of  his  companion  in  arms,  whom  he  had  placed 
in  his  own  position  at  the  head  of  the  army  in  Egypt.  To 
these  I  have  only  one  answer  to  make,  if  it  is  necessary 
to  answer  them  at  all;  it  is  this,  they  never  knew  the 
Emperor. 

After  his  return,  the  First  Consul  went  often  with  his 
wife  to  Malmaison,  where  he  remained  sometimes  for  several 


1  John  Baptist  Kleber,  born  at  Strasburg,  1754  ;  educated  at  the  military 
school  of  Munich  ;  In  1793  made  general  of  brigade  for  gallant  conduct  at 
siege  of  Mayence.  He  commanded  the  left  wing  at  Fleurus,  accompanied 
Bonaparte  to  Egypt,  who  placed  him  in  command  of  the  army  on  his  return 
to  France,  and  showed  talents  as  a  soldier  and  an  administrator  of  the  highest 
order.  At  St.  Helena  Napoleon  said,  "  Of  all  the  generals  I  had  under  me, 
Desaix  and  Kleber  possessed  the  greatest  talents."  —  TRANS. 


CONSTANT'S   HORSE  FALLS.  97 

days.  At  this  time  it  was  the  duty  of  the  valet  de  chambre 
to  follow  the  carriage  on  horseback.  One  day  the  First 
Consul,  while  returning  to  Paris,  ascertained  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  chateau  that  he  had  forgotten  his  snuff-box, 
and  sent  me  for  it.  I  turned  my  bridle,  set  off  at  a  gallop, 
and,  having  found  the  snuff-box  on  his  desk,  retraced  my 
steps  to  overtake  him,  but  did  not  succeed  in  doing  so  till 
he  had  reached  Ruelle.  Just  as  I  drew  near  the  carriage 
my  horse  slipped  on  a  stone,  fell,  and  threw  me  some 
distance  into  a  ditch.  The  fall  was  very  severe ;  and  I 
remained  stretched  on  the  ground,  with  one  shoulder  dis- 
located, and  an  arm  badly  bruised.  The  First  Consul 
ordered  the  horses  stopped,  himself  gave  orders  to  have 
me  taken  up,  and  cautioned  them  to  be  very  careful  in 
moving  me ;  and  I  was  borne,  attended  by  him,  to  the 
barracks  of  Ruelle,  where  he  took  pains  before  continuing 
his  journey  to  satisfy  himself  that  I  was  in  no  danger. 
The  physician  of  his  household  was  sent  to  Ruelle,  my 
shoulder  set,  and  my  arm  dressed ;  and  from  there  I  was 
carried  as  gently  as  possible  to  Malmaison,  where  good 
Madame  Bonaparte  had  the  kindness  to  come  to  see  me, 
and  lavished  on  me  every  attention. 

The  day  I  returned  to  service,  after  my  recovery,  I  was 
in  the  antechamber  of  the  First  Consul  as  he  came  out  of 
his  cabinet.  He  drew  near  me,  and  inquired  with  great  in- 
terest how  I  was.  I  replied  that,  thanks  to  the  care  taken 
of  me,  according  to  the  orders  of  my  excellent  master  and 
mistress,  I  was  quite  well  again.  "  So  much  the  better," 
said  the  First  Consul.  "Constant,  make  haste,  and  get  your 
strength  back.  Continue  to  serve  me  well,  and  I  will  take 
care  of  you.  Here,"  added  he,  placing  in  my  hand  three 


98  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

little  crumpled  papers,  "  these  are  to  replenish  your  ward- 
robe,*" and  he  passed  on,  without  listening  to  the  profuse 
thanks  which,  with  great  emotion,  I  was  attempting  to 
express,  much  more  for  the  consideration  and  interest  in 
me  shown  by  him  than  for  his  present,  for  I  did  not  then 
know  of  what  it  consisted.  After  he  passed  on  I  unrolled 
my  papers  :  they  were  three  bank-bills,  each  for  a  thou- 
sand francs  !  I  was  moved  to  tears  by  so  great  a  kindness. 
We  must  remember  that  at  this  period  the  First  Consul 
was  not  rich,  although  he  was  the  first  magistrate  of  the 
republic.  How  deeply  the  remembrance  of  this  generous 
deed  touches  me,  even  to-day.  I  do  not  know  if  details  so 
personal  to  me  will  be  found  interesting ;  but  they  seem  to 
me  proper  as  evidence  of  the  true  character  of  the  Emperor, 
which  has  been  so  outrageously  misrepresented,  and  also  as 
an  instance  of  his  ordinary  conduct  towards  the  servants  of 
his  house  ;  it  shows  too,  at  the  same  time,  whether  the 
severe  economy  that  he  required  in  his  domestic  manage- 
ment, and  of  which  I  will  speak  elsewhere,  was  the  result, 
as  has  been  stated,  of  sordid  avarice,  or  whether  it  was  not 
rather  a  rule  of  prudence,  from  which  he  departed  willingly 
whenever  his  kindness  of  heart  or  his  humanity  urged  him 
thereto. 

I  am  not  certain  that  my  memory  does  not  deceive  me 
in  leading  me  to  put  in  this  place  a  circumstance  which 
shows  the  esteem  in  which  the  First  Consul  held  the  brave 
soldiers  of  his  army,  and  how  he  loved  to  manifest  it  on  all 
occasions.  I  was  one  day  in  his  sleeping-room,  at  the  usual 
hour  for  his  toilet,  andv  was  performing  that  day  the  duties 
of  chief  valet,  Hambard  being  temporarily  absent  or  indis- 
posed, there  being  in  the  room,  besides  the  body  servants, 


JEROME  BONAPARTE.  99 

only  the  brave  and  modest  Colonel  Gerard  Lacuee,  one  of 
the  aides-de-camp  of  the  First  Consul.  Jerome  Bonaparte, 
then  hardly  seventeen  years  of  age,  was  introduced.  This 
young  man  gave  his  family  frequent  cause  of  complaint, 
and  feared  no  one  except  his  brother  Napoleon,  who  repri- 
manded, lectured,  and  scolded  him  as  if  he  had  been  his 
own  son.  There  was  a  question  at  the  time  of  making 
him  a  sailor,  less  with  the  object  of  giving  him  a  career, 
than  of  removing  him  from  the  seductive  temptations  which 
the  high  position  of  his  brother  caused  to  spring  up  inces- 
santly around  his  path,  and  which  he  had  little  strength  to 
resist.  It  may  be  imagined  what  it  cost  him  to  renounce 
pleasures  so  accessible  and  so  delightful  to  a  young  man. 
He  did  not  fail  to  protest,  on  all  occasions,  his  unfitness  for 
sea-service,  going  so  far,  it  is  said,  that  he  even  caused  him- 
self to  be  rejected  by  the  examining  board  of  the  navy  as 
incompetent,  though  he  could  easily  have  prepared  himself 
to  answer  the  few  questions  asked.  However,  the  will  of 
the  First  Consul  must  be  obeyed,  and  Jerome  was  compelled 
to  embark.  On  the  day  of  which  I  have  spoken,  after  some 
moments  of  conversation  and  scolding,  still  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  navy,  Jerome  said  to  his  brother,  "  Instead  of 
sending  me  to  perish  of  ennui  at  sea,  you  ought  to  take 
me  for  an  aide-de-camp"  —  "  What,  take  you,  greenhorn" 
warmly  replied  the  First  Consul ;  "  wait  till  a  ball  has  fur- 
rowed your  face  and  then  I  will  see  about  it,"  at  the  same 
time  calling  his  attention  to  Colonel  Lacuee,1  who  blushed, 
and  dropped  his  eyes  to  the  floor  like  a  young  girl,  for, 

1  Gerard  Jean  Lacuee,  by  birth  Comte  de  Cessac,  was  born  near  Agen, 
1752.  He  became  general,  a  member  of  the  Institute,  minister  of  state  (1807), 
minister  in  the  war  department  (1810),  and  died  1841.  Constant  has  either 
mistaken  the  name  or  the  fate  of  this  gallant  officer.  —  TRANS. 


100  RECOLLECTIONS   OF   NAPOLEON. 

as  is  well  known,  he  bore  on  his  face  the  scar  made  by  a 
bullet.  This  gallant  colonel  was  killed  in  1805  before 
Guntzbourg;  and  the  Emperor  deeply  regretted  his  loss, 
for  he  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  skillful  officers  of 
the  army. 

It  was,  I  believe,  about  this  time  that  the  First  Consul 
conceived  a  strong  passion  for  a  very  intelligent  and  hand- 
some young  woman,  Madame  D .  Madame  Bonaparte, 

suspecting  this  intrigue,  showed  jealousy ;  and  her  husband 
did  all  he  could  to  allay  her  wifely  suspicions.  Before 
going  to  the  chamber  of  his  mistress  he  would  wait  until 
every  one  was  asleep  in  the  chateau ;  and  he  even  carried 
his  precautions  so  far  as  to  go  from  his  room  to  hers  in  his 
night-dress,  without  shoes  or  slippers.  Once  I  found  that 
day  was  about  to  break  before  his  return ;  and  fearing  scan- 
dal, I  went,  as  the  First  Consul  had  ordered  me  to  do  in  such 

a  case,  to  notify  the  chambermaid  of  Madame  D to  go 

to  her  mistress  and  tell  her  the  hour.  It  was  hardly  five 
minutes  after  this  timely  notice  had  been  given,  when  I  saw 
the  First  Consul  returning,  in  great  excitement,  of  which  I 
soon  learned  the  cause.  He  had  discovered,  on  his  return, 
one  of  Madame  Bonaparte's  women,  lying  in  wait,  and  who 
had  seen  him  through  the  window  of  a  closet  opening  upon 
the  corridor.  The  First  Consul,  after  a  vigorous  outburst 
against  the  curiosity  of  the  fair  sex,  sent  me  to  the  young 
scout  from  the  enemy's  camp  to  intimate  to  her  his  orders 
to  hold  her  tongue,  unless  she  wished  to  be  discharged 
without  hope  of  return.  I  do  not  know  whether  I  added  a 
milder  argument  to  these  threats  to  buy  her  silence ;  but, 
whether  from  fear  or  for  compensation,  she  had  the  good 
sense  not  to  talk.  Nevertheless,  the  successful  lover,  fear- 


THE  FIRST  CONSUL'S  MANNER   TOWARDS    WOMEN.  101 

.ing  another  surprise,  directed  me  to  rent  in  the  Alice  des 

Veuves  a  little  house  where  he  and  Madame  D met 

from  time  to  time.  Such  were,  and  continued  to  be,  the 
precautions  of  the  First  Consul  towards  his  wife.  He  had 
the  highest  regard  for  her,  and  took  all  imaginable  care  to 
prevent  his  infidelities  coming  to  her  knowledge.  Besides, 
these  passing  fancies  did  not  lessen  the  tenderness  he  felt 
for  her ;  and  although  other  women  inspired  him  with  love, 
no  other  woman  had  his  confidence  and  friendship  to  the 
same  extent  as  Madame  Bonaparte.  There  have  been  a 
thousand  and  one  calumnies  repeated  of  the  harshness  and 
brutality  of  the  First  Consul  towards  women.  He  was  not 
always  gallant,  but  I  have  never  seen  him  rude ;  and,  how- 
ever singular  it  may  seem  after  what  I  have  just  related, 
he  professed  the  greatest  veneration  for  a  wife  of  exemplary 
conduct,  speaking  in  admiring  terms  of  happy  households  ; 
and  he  did  not  admire  cynicism,  either  in  morals  or  in  lan- 
guage. When  he  had  any  liaisons  he  kept  them  secret,  and 
concealed  them  with  great  care. 


102  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

The  infernal  machine.  — The  most  invalid  of  architects.  — A  fortunate  chance. 
—  Haste  and  delay  equally  advantageous. — Hortense  slightly  wounded. 
— 'Fright  of  Madame  Murat  and  necessary  consequences.  —  Germain,  the 
coachman.  —  How  he  got  the  name  of  Caesar.  —  Incorrect  statements  on 
the  subject. — Dinner  given  him  by  500  coachmen. — The  author  at  the 
Feydeau  theater  at  the  time  of  the  explosion.  —  Fright. — Race  bare- 
headed.—  The  inflexible  sentinels. — The  First  Consul  returns  to  the 
Tuileries.  —  Words  of  the  First  Consul  to  Constant.  —  The  Consular 
guard.  —  The  residence  of  the  First  Consul  put  under  guard.  —  The 
utmost  fidelity.  —  The  Jacobins  innocent,  and  the  Royalists  guilty.  — 
Grand  review. — Joy  of  soldiers  and  people.  —  Universal  peace.  —  Public 
rejoicings  and  improvised  fetes. — Reception  of  Corps  Diplomatic  and 
Lord  Cornwallis.  — Military  luxury.  —  The  Regent  diamond. 

THE  3d  Nivose,1  year  IX.  (Dec.  21,  1800),  the  Opera 
presented,  by  order,  The  Creation  of  Haydn ;  and  the  First 
Consul  had  announced  that  he  would  be  present,  with  all 
his  household,  at  this  magnificent  oratorio.  He  dined  on 
that  day  with  Madame  Bonaparte,  her  daughter,  and  Gen- 
erals Rapp,  Lauriston,  Lannes,  and  Berthier.  I  was  on 
duty;  but  as  the  First  Consul  was  going  to  the  Opera, 
I  knew  that  I  should  not  be  needed  at  the  chateau, 


1  Under  the  Republican  regime  the  years  were  counted  from  the  proc- 
lamation of  the  Republic,  Sept.  22,  1792.  The  year  was  divided  into  twelve 
months  of  thirty  days  each,  re-named  from  some  peculiarity,  as  Brumaire 
(foggy) ;  Nivose  (snowy) ;  Thermidor  (hot) ;  Fructidor  (fruit),  etc. ;  besides  five 
supplementary  days  of  festivals,  called  sans-culottides.  The  months  were 
divided  into  three  decades  of  ten  days  instead  of  weeks,  the  tenth  day  (de- 
cadi)  being  in  lieu  of  Sunday.  The  Republican  calendar  lasted  till  Jan.  1, 
1806,  as  to  the  years  and  months  at  least,  though  the  Concordat  had  restored 
the  weeks  and  Sabbaths.  —  TRANS. 


THE  INFERNAL  MACHINE.  103 

and  resolved,  for  my  part,  to  go  to  the  Feydeau,  occupy- 
ing the  box  which  Madame  Bonaparte  allowed  us,  and 
which  was  situated  under  hers.  After  dinner,  which  the 
First  Consul  holted  with  his  usual  rapidity,  he  rose  from 
the  table,  followed  by  his  officers,  with  the  exception  of 
General  Rapp,  who  remained  with  Madame  Josephine  and 
Hortense.  About  seven  o'clock  the  First  Consul  entered 
his  carriage  with  Lannes,  Berthier,  and  Lauriston,  to  go 
to  the  Opera.  When  they  arrived  in  the  middle  of  Rue 
Sainte-Nicaise,  the  escort  who  preceded  the  carriage  found 
the  road  obstructed  by  a  cart,  which  seemed  to  be  aban- 
doned, and  on  which  a  cask  was  found  fastened  strongly 
with  ropes.  The  chief  of  the  escort  had  this  cart  removed 
to  the  side  of  the  street;  and  the  First  Consul's  coachman, 
whom  this  delay  had  made  impatient,  urged  on  his  horses 
vigorously,  and  they  shot  off  like  lightning.  Scarcely  two 
seconds  had  passed  when  the  barrel  which  was  on  the  cart 
burst  with  a  frightful  explosion.  No  one  of  the  escort  or 
of  the  companions  of  the  First  Consul  was  slain,  but  several 
were  wounded;  and  the  loss  among  the  residents  in  the 
street  and  the  passers-by  near  the  horrible  machine  was 
much  greater.  More  than  twenty  of  these  were  killed,  and 
more  than  sixty  seriously  wounded.  Trepsat,  the  architect, 
had  his  thigh  broken.  The  First  Consul  afterwards  deco- 
rated him,  and  made  him  the  architect  of  the  Invalides, 
saying  that  he  had  long  enough  been  the  most  invalid  of 
architects.  All  the  panes  of  glass  at  the  Tuileries  were 
broken,  and  many  houses  thrown  down.1  All  those  of  the 

1  The  prefect  of  police  made  his  report  to  the  Consul,  in  which,  after  hav- 
ing related  the  details  of  this  frightful  event,  he  gave  the  list  of  the  dead  and 
wounded,  — eight  of  the  first,  and  twenty-eight  of  the  second.  The  report 


104  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Rue  Sainte-Nicaise,  and  even  some  in  the  adjacent  streets, 
were  badly  damaged,  some  fragments  being  blown  into  the 
house  of  the  Consul  Cambaceres.  The  glass  of  the  First 
Consul's  carriage  was  shivered  to  fragments. 

By  a  fortunate  chance,  the  carriages  of  the  suite,  which 
should  have  been  immediately  behind  that  of  the  First 
Consul,  were  some  distance  in  the  rear,  which  happened  in 
this  way :  Madame  Bonaparte,  after  dinner,  had  a  shawl 
brought  to  wear  to  the  opera ;  and  when  it  came,  General 
Rapp  jestingly  criticised  the  color,  and  begged  her  to 
choose  another.  Madame  Bonaparte  defended  her  shawl, 
and  said  to  the  general  that  he  knew  as  much  about  criti- 
cising a  toilet  as  she  did  about  attacking  a  fort.  This 
friendly  banter  continued  for  some  moments ;  and  in  the 
interval,  the  First  Consul,  who  never  waited,  set  out  in 
advance,  and  the  miserable  assassins  and  authors  of  the 
conspiracy  set  fire  to  the  infernal  machine.  Had  the 
coachman  of  the  First  Consul  driven  less  rapidly,  and 
thereby  been  two  seconds  later,  it  would  have  been  all  over 
with  his  master  ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  if  Madame  Bona- 

added:  forty-six  houses  are  badly  damaged.  The  injury  to  buildings  is  esti- 
mated at  40,854  francs,  and  to  furniture,  123,645  francs.  The  national  build- 
ings are  not  included  in  this  estimate.  The  horse,  the  remnants  of  the  cart, 
and  some  parts  of  the  barrel,  were  brought  to  the  prefecture. 

These  remnants  were  scrupulously  collected.  The  description  of  the 
horse  was  also  taken  with  the  greatest  care. 

Dubois  (the  prefect)  thought  proper  to  close  his  report  with  a  compli- 
ment to  the  First  Consul,  in  which,  however,  there  was  some  truth,  that  the 
attempt  of  the  3d  Nivose  had  increased  the  attachment  of  the  French  for  the 
head  of  the  state.  The  last  paragraph  of  the  report  was  as  follows :  — 

"From  the  very  instant  of  the  explosion  investigation  has  been  made  on 
the  very  spot.  Depositions  were  taken ;  and  in  the  midst  of  cries  which  pain 
wrested  from  the  unfortunate  victims  of  this  most  atrocious  plot,  there  was 
this  gratification  that  the  wounded  forgot  their  wounds  to  think  of  the  First 
Consul.  On  his  account  they  demanded  vengeance."  —  Note  by  CONSTANT. 


HOUTENSE  SLIGHTLY  WOUNDED.  105 

parte  had  followed  her  husband  promptly,  it  would  have 
been  certain  death  to  her  and  all  her  suite.  It  was,  in  fact, 
the  delay  of  an  instant  which  saved  her  life,  as  well  as 
that  of  her  daughter,  her  sister-in-law,  Madame  Murat,  and 
all  who  were  to  accompany  them,  since  the  carriage  of  these 
ladies,  instead  of  being  immediately  behind  that  of  the  First 
Consul,  was  just  leaving  the  Place  Carrousel,1  when  the 
machine  exploded.  The  glass  was  shivered;  and  though 
Madame  Bonaparte  received  no  injury  except  the  terrible 
fright,  Hortense  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  face  by  a 
piece  of  glass,  and  Madame  Caroline  Murat,  who  was  then 
far  advanced  in  pregnancy,  was  so  frightened  that  it  was 
necessary  to  carry  her  back  to  the  Tuileries.  This  catas- 
trophe had  its  influence,  even  on  the  health  of  her  child ; 
for  I  have  been  told  that  Prince  Achille  Murat2  is  subject, 
to  this  day,  to  frequent  attacks  of  epilepsy.  As  is  well 
known,  the  First  Consul  went  on  to  the  opera,  where  he 
was  received  with  tumultuous  acclamations,  the  immobility 
of  his  countenance  contrasting  strongly  with  the  pallor  and 
agitation  of  Madame  Bonaparte's,  who  had  feared  not  so 
much  for  herself  as  for  him. 

The  coachman  who  had  driven  the  First  Consul  with 
such  good  fortune  was  named  Germain.  He  had  followed 
him  in  Egypt,  and  in  a  skirmish  had  killed  an  Arab 
with  his  own  hand,  under  the  eyes  of  the  general-in-chief, 
who,  struck  with  his  courage,  had  cried  out,  "  Diable  — 
that's  a  brave  man,  he  is  a  Csesar."  The  name  had  clung 
to  him.  It  has  been  said  that  this  brave  man  was  drunk 

1  The   Place   Carrousel  was   the  interior  courtyard   of   the  Tuileries. 
—  TRANS. 

2  Prince  Achille  came  to  America,  and  married  a  grand-niece  of  Daniel 
Webster.    He  resided  many  years  in  Florida.  —  TRANS. 


106  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

at  the  time  of  this  explosion ;  but  this  is  a  mistake,  which 
his  conduct  under  the  circumstances  contradicts  in  the 
most  positive  manner.  When  the  First  Consul,  after  he 
became  Emperor,  went  out,  incognito,  in  Paris,  it  was 
Caesar  who  was  his  escort,  without  livery.  It  is  said 
in  the  Memorial  de  Sainte  Hglene  that  the  Emperor,  in 
speaking  of  Caesar,  stated  that  he  was  in  a  complete  state 
of  intoxication,  and  took  the  noise  of  the  explosion  for 
an  artillery  salute,  nor  did  he  know  until  the  next  day 
what  had  taken  place.  This  is  entirely  untrue,  and  the 
Emperor  was  incorrectly  informed  in  regard  to  his  coach- 
man. Csesar  drove  the  First  Consul  very  rapidly  because 
he  had  been  ordered  to  do  so,  and  because  he  considered 
his  honor  interested  in  not  allowing  the  obstacle  which  the 
infernal  machine  placed  in  his  way  before  the  explosion 
to  delay  him.  The  evening  of  the  event  I  saw  Csesar,  who 
was  perfectly  sober,  and  he  himself  related  to  me  part  of 
the  details  that  I  have  just  given.  A  few  days  after,  four 
or  five  hundred  hackney-coachmen  clubbed  together  to 
honor  him,  and  gave  him  a  magnificent  dinner  at  twenty- 
four  francs  per  head. 

While  the  infernal  plot  was  being  executed,  and  cost- 
ing the  lives  of  many  innocent  citizens,  without  attaining 
the  object  the  assassins  proposed,  I  was,  as  I  have  said,  at 
the  Theatre  Feydeau,  where  I  had  prepared  myself  to  enjoy 
at  my  leisure  an  entire  evening  of  freedom,  amid  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  stage,  for  which  I  had  all  my  life  a  great  liking. 
Scarcely  had  I  seated  myself  comfortably,  however,  when 
the  box-keeper  entered  in  the  greatest  excitement,  crying 
out,  "  Monsieur  Constant,  it  is  said  that  they  have  just 
blown  up  the  First  Consul ;  there  has  been  a  terrible  explo- 


CONSTANT'S  FltlGIIT.  107 

sion,  and  it  is  asserted  that  he  is  dead."  These  terrible 
words  were  like  a  thunderbolt  to  me.  Not  knowing  what 
I  did,  I  plunged  down-stairs,  and,  forgetting  my  hat,  ran 
like  mad  to  the  chateau.  While  crossing  Rue  Vivienne 
and  the  Palais  Royal,  I  saw  no  extraordinary  disturbance ; 
but  in  Rue  Sainte  Honore  there  was  a  very  great  tumult, 
and  I  saw,  borne  away  on  litters,  many  dead  and  wounded, 
who  had  been  at  first  carried  into  the  neighboring  houses 
of  Rue  Sainte  Nicaise.  Many  groups  had  formed,  and  with 
one  voice  all  were  cursing  the  still  unknown  authors  of  this 
dastardly  attempt.  Some  accused  the  Jacobins  of  this, 
because  three  months  before  they  had  placed  the  poniard  in 
the  hands  of  Cerrachi,1  of  Arena,2  and  of  Topino  Lebrun ; 3 
whilst  others,  less  numerous  perhaps,  thought  the  aristo- 
crats, the  Royalists,  could  alone  be  guilty  of  this  atrocity. 
I  could  give  no  time  to  these  various  accusations,  except 
as  I  was  detained  in  forcing  my  way  through  an  immense 
and  closely  packed  crowd,  and  as  rapidly  as  possible  went 
on,  and  in  two  seconds  was  at  the  Carrousel.  I  threw 
myself  against  the  wicket,  but  the  two  sentinels  instantly 
crossed  bayonets  before  my  breast.  It  was  useless  to  cry 
out  that  I  was  valet  de  chambre  of  the  First  Consul ;  for 
my  bare  head,  my  wild  manner,  the  disorder,  both  of  my 
dress  and  ideas,  appeared  to  them  suspicious,  and  they 
refused  energetically  and  very  obstinately  to  allow  me  to 


1  Joseph  Ceracchi,  an  Italian  sculptor  who  had  made  a  statue  of  Bonaparte 
in  Italy  in  1796.    He  was  executed  with  Arena  and  Topino-Lebruu.  —  TRANS. 

2  Joseph  Arena,  born  in  Corsica,  served  with  Bonaparte  at  Toulon,  mem- 
ber of  Legislative  Assembly,  1797,  left  the  army  after  18th  Brumaire,  guillo- 
tined Jan.  30,  1802,  on  the  charge  of  complicity  in  this  attempt. — TRANS. 

a  Topino-Lebrun,  a  French  painter  and  ardent  Republican,  born  at  Mar- 
seilles, 1769.  — TRANS. 


108  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

enter.  I  then  begged  them  to  send  for  the  gatekeeper  of 
the  chateau ;  and  as  soon  as  he  came,  I  was  admitted,  or 
rather  rushed  into  the  chateau,  where  I  learned  what  had 
just  happened.  A  short  time  after  the  First  Consul 
arrived,  and  was  immediately  surrounded  by  his  officers, 
and  by  all  his  household,  every  one  present  being  in  the 
greatest  state  of  anxiety.  When  the  First  Consul  alighted 
from  his  carriage  he  appeared  calm  and  smiling ;  he  even 
wore  an  air  of  gayety.  On  entering  the  vestibule  he  said  to 
his  officers,  rubbing  his  hands,  "  Well,  sirs,  we  made  a  fine 
escape  !  "  They  shuddered  with  indignation  and  anger. 
He  then  entered  the  grand  saloon  on  the  ground  floor, 
where  a  large  number  of  counselors  of  state  and  digni- 
taries had  already  assembled ;  but  hardly  had  they  begun  to 
express  their  congratulations,  when  he  interrupted  them, 
and  in  so  vehement  a  manner  that  he  was  heard  outside 
the  saloon.  We  were  told  that  after  this  council  he  had 
a  lively  altercation  with  Fouche,1  Minister  of  Police,  whom 
he  reproached  with  his  ignorance  of  this  plot,  openly 
accusing  the  Jacobins  of  being  the  authors. 

That  evening,  on  retiring,  the  First  Consul  asked  me 
laughingly  if  I  was  afraid.  "More  than  you  were,  my 
general,"  I  replied ;  and  I  related  to  him  how  I  had  heard 
the  fatal  news  at  the  Feydeau,  and  had  run  without  my 
hat  to  the  very  wicket  of  the  Carrousel,  where  the  senti- 
nels tried  to  prevent  my  entering.  He  was  amused  at  the 

1  Joseph  Fouche,  the  celebrated  minister  of  police,  was  born  at  Marti- 
niere,  Loire  Infe'rieure,  1763.  Deputy  to  the  Convention,  he  voted  for  the 
death  of  the  king.  He  was  minister  of  police  18th  Brumaire,  and  continued 
in  that  office  till  1810,  when  he  fell  into  disgrace  and  was  succeeded  by  Sa- 
vary.  He  was  recalled  to  his  post  by  the  Emperor  during  the  Hundred 
Days.  Died  at  Trieste,  1820.  —  TRANS. 


THE  CONSULAR   GUARD.  109 

oaths  and  abusive  epithets  with  which  they  had  accom- 
panied their  defense  of  the  gate,  and  at  last  said  to  me, 
"After  all,  my  dear  Constant,  you  should  not  be  angry 
with  them ;  they  were  only  obeying  orders.  They  are  brave 
men,  on  whom  I  can  rely."  The  truth  is,  the  Consular 
Guard  was  at  this  period  no  less  devoted  than  it  has  been 
since  as  the  Imperial  Guard.  At  the  first  rumor  of  the 
great  risk  which  the  First  Consul  had  run,  all  the  soldiers 
of  that  faithful  band  had  gathered  spontaneously  in  the 
court  of  the  Tuile'ries. 

After  this  melancholy  catastrophe,  which  carried  dis- 
tress into  all  France,  and  mourning  into  so  many  families, 
the  entire  police  were  actively  engaged  in  searching  for  the 
authors  of  the  plot.  The  dwelling  of  the  First  Consul 
was  first  put  under  surveillance,  and  we  were  incessantly 
watched  by  spies,  without  suspecting  it.  All  our  walks, 
all  our  visits,  all  our  goings  and  comings,  were  known; 
and  attention  was  especially  directed  to  our  friends,  and 
even  our  liaisons.  But  such  was  the  devotion  of  each 
and  all  to  the  person  of  the  First  Consul,  such  was  the 
affection  that  he  so  well  knew  how  to  inspire  in  those 
around  him,  that  not  one  of  the  persons  attached  to  his 
service  was  for  an  instant  suspected  of  having  a  hand  in 
this  infamous  attempt.  Neither  at  this  time,  nor  in  any 
other  affair  of  this  kind,  were  the  members  of  his  house- 
hold ever  compromised;  and  never  was  the  name  of  the 
lowest  of  his  servants  ever  found  mixed  up  in  criminal 
plots  against  a  life  so  valued  and  so  glorious. 

The  minister  of  police  suspected  the  Royalists  of  this 
attempt ;  but  the  First  Consul  attributed  it  to  the  Jacobins, 
because  they  were  already  guilty,  he  said,  of  crimes  as 


110  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

odious.  One  hundred  and  thirty  of  the  most  noted  men 
of  this  party  were  transported  on  pure  suspicion,  and 
without  any  form  of  trial.  It  is  now  known  that  the  dis- 
covery, trial,  and  execution  of  Saint  Regent  and  Carbon, 
the  true  criminals,  proved  that  the  conjectures  of  the  min- 
ister were  more  correct  than  those  of  the  chief  of  state. 

The  4th  Nivose,  at  noon,  the  First  Consul  held  a  grand 
review  in  the  Place  Carrousel,  where  an  innumerable  crowd 
of  citizens  were  collected  to  behold,  and  also  to  testify  their 
affection  for  his  person,  and  their  indignation  against  the 
enemies  who  dared  attack  him  only  by  assassination. 
Hardly  had  he  turned  his  horse  towards  the  first  line  of 
grenadiers  of  the  Consular  Guard,  when  their  innumerable 
acclamations  rose  on  all  sides.  He  rode  along  the  ranks, 
at  a  walk,  very  slowly,  showing  his  appreciation,  and 
replying  by  a  few  simple  and  affectionate  words  to  this 
effusion  of  popular  joy;  and  cries  of  "Vive  Bonaparte! 
Vive  the  First  Consul!  "  did  not  cease  till  after  he  had 
re-entered  his  apartments. 

The  conspirators  who  obstinately  persisted,  with  so 
much  animosity,  in  attacking  the  life  of  the  First  Consul, 
could  not  have  chosen  a  period  in  which  circumstances 
would  have  been  more  adverse  to  their  plans  than  in  1800 
and  1801 ;  for  then  the  Consul  was  beloved  not  only  for 
his  military  deeds,  but  still  more  for  the  hope  of  peace  that 
he  gave  to  France,  which  hope  was  soon  realized.  As 
soon  as  the  first  rumor  spread  abroad  that  peace  had  been 
concluded  with  Austria,  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Paris  gathered  under  the  windows  of  the  Pavilion  of 
Flora.  Blessings  and  cries  of  gratitude  and  joy  were  heard 
on  all  sides ;  then  musicians  assembled  to  give  a  serenade 


IMPROVISED  FETES.  Ill 

to  the  chief  of  state,  and  proceeded  to  form  themselves 
into  orchestras ;  and  there  was  dancing  the  whole  night 
through.  I  have  never  seen  a  sight  more  striking  or  more 
joyous  than  the  bird's-eye  view  of  this  improvised  jubilee. 
When  in  the  month  of  October,  the  peace  of  Amiens 
having  been  concluded  with  England,  France  found  her- 
self delivered  from  all  the  wars  that  she  had  maintained 
through  so  many  years,  and  at  the  cost  of  so  many  sacri- 
fices, it  would  be  impossible  to  form  an  idea  of  the  joy 
which  burst  forth  on  all  sides.  The  decrees  which  ordered 
cither  the  disarmament  of  vessels  of  war,  or  the  placing 
of  the  forts  on  a  peace  footing,  were  welcomed  as  pledges 
of  happiness  and  security.  The  day  of  the  reception  of 
Lord  Cornwallis,  Ambassador  of  England,  the  First  Consul 
ordered  that  the  greatest  magnificence  should  be  displayed. 
"  It  is  necessary,"  he  had  said  the  evening  before,  "  to 
show  these  proud  Britons  that  we  are  not  reduced  to 
beggary."  The  fact  is,  the  English,  before  setting  foot 
on  the  French  continent,  had  expected  to  find  only  ruins, 
penury,  and  misery.  The  whole  of  France  had  been 
described  to  them  as  being  in  the  most  distressing  condi- 
tion, and  they  thought  themselves  on  the  point  of  landing 
in  a  barbarous  country.  Their  surprise  was  great  when 
they  saw  how  many  evils  the  First  Consul  had  already 
repaired  in  so  short  a  time,  and  all  the  improvements  that 
he  still  intended  to  carry  out ;  and  they  spread  through  their 
own  country  the  report  of  what  they  themselves  called  the 
prodigies  of  the  First  Consul,  by  which  thousands  of  their 
compatriots  were  influenced  to  come  and  judge  with  their 
own  eyes.  At  the  moment  that  Lord  Cornwallis  entered 
the  great  hall  of  the  Ambassadors  with  his  suite,  the  eyes 


112  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  all  the  English  must  have  been  dazzled  by  the  sight 
of  the  First  Consul,  surrounded  by  his  two  colleagues, 
with  all  the  diplomatic  corps,  and  with  an  already  brilliant 
military  court. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  rich  uniforms,  his  was  remark- 
able for  its  simplicity ;  but  the  diamond  called  the  Regent, 
which  had  been  put  in  pawn  under  the  Directory,  and 
redeemed  a  few  days  since  by  the  First  Consul,  sparkled 
on  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 


THE  KING   OF  ETRURIA.  113 


CHAPTER   VII. 

The  King  of  Etruria.  —  Madame  de  Montesson. — A  monarch  not  fond  of 
work.  —  Conversation  on  the  subject  between  the  First  and  Second  Con- 
suls. —  A  word  as  to  the  return  of  the  Bourbons.  —  Intelligence  and  con- 
versation of  Don  Louis. — Peculiar  economy. — A  present  of  a  hundred 
thousand  crowns,  and  a  royal  gift  of  six  francs.  —  Harshness  of  Don 
Louis  towards  his  servants.  —  Haughtiness  towards  a  diplomat  and  dis- 
like of  business. — The  King  of  Etruria  installed  by  the  future  King 
of  Naples. — The  Queen  of  Etruria. — Her  indifference  to  dress.  —  Her 
good  sense.  — Her  kindness.  — Her  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  her  duties. 
—  Magnificent/eies  at  the  residence  of  Talleyrand.  —  At  the  residence  of 
Madame  de  Montesson. — At  the  residence  of  the  Minister  of  the  Inte- 
rior.— The  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Marengo.  —  The  departure  of 
their  Majesties. 

IN  the  month  of  May,  1801,  there  came  to  Paris,  on  his 
way  to  take  possession  of  his  new  kingdom,  the  Prince  of 
Tuscany,  Don  Louis  the  First,  whom  the  First  Consul  had 
just  made  King  of  Etruria.  He  traveled  under  the  name 
of  the  Count  of  Leghorn,  with  his  wife,  who  was  the 
infanta  of  Spain,  Maria  Louisa,  third  daughter  of  Charles 
the  Fourth ;  but  in  spite  of  the  incognito,  which,  from  the 
modest  title  he  had  assumed,  he  seemed  really  anxious  to 
preserve,  especially,  perhaps,  on  account  of  the  poor  appear- 
ance of  his  small  court,  he  was,  notwithstanding,  received 
and  treated  at  the  Tuileries  as  a  king.  This  prince  was  in 
feeble  health,  and  it  was  said  had  epilepsy.  They  were 
lodged  at  the  residence  of  the  Spanish  Embassy,  formerly 
the  Hotel  Montesson ;  and  he  requested  Madame  de  Montes- 
son, who  lived  in  the  next  house,  to  reopen  a  private  com- 


114  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

munication  between  the  houses  which  had  long  been  closed. 
He,  as  well  as  the  Queen  of  Etruria,  greatly  enjoyed  the 
society  of  this  lady,  who  was  the  widow  of  the  Duke  of 
Orleans,  and  spent  many  hours  every  day  in  her  house. 
A  Bourbon  himself,  he  doubtless  loved  to  hear  every  par- 
ticular relating  to  the  Bourbons  of  France,  which  could  so 
well  be  given  by  one  who  had  lived  at  their  court,  and  on 
intimate  terms  with  the  royal  family,  with  which  she  was 
connected  by  ties  which,  though  not  official,  were  none  the 
less  well  known  and  recognized. 

Madame  de  Montesson  received  at  her  house  all  who 
were  most  distinguished  in  Parisian  society.  She  had 
reunited  the  remnants  of  the  most  select  society  of  former 
times,  which  the  Revolution  had  dispersed.  A  friend  of 
Madame  Bonaparte,  she  was  also  loved  and  respected  by  the 
First  Consul,  who  was  desirous  that  they  should  speak 
and  think  well  of  him  in  the  most  noble  and  elegant 
saloon  of  the  capital.  Besides,  he  relied  upon  the  experi- 
ence and  exquisite  refinement  of  this  lady,  to  establish  in 
the  palace  and  its  society,  out  of  which  he  already  dreamed 
of  making  a  court,  the  usages  and  etiquette  customary 
with  sovereigns. 

The  King  of  Etruria  was  not  fond  of  work,  and  in  this 
respect  did  not  please  the  First  Consul,  who  could  not 
endure  idleness.  I  heard  him  one  day,  in  conversation 
with  his  colleague,  Cambaceres,  score  severely  his  royal 
protege  (in  his  absence,  of  course).  "Here  is  a  prince," 
said  he,  "  who  does  not  concern  himself  much  with  his  very- 
dear  and  well-beloved  subjects,  but  passes  his  time  cack- 
ling with  old  women,  to  whom  he  dilates  in  a  loud  tone  on 
my  good  qualities,  while  he  complains  in  a  whisper  of 


THE  KING   OF  ETRURIA.  115 

owing  his  elevation  to  the  chief  of  this  cursed  French  Re- 
public. His  only  business  is  walking,  hunting,  balls,  and 
theaters." — "It  is  asserted,"  remarked  Cambaceres,  "that 
you  wished  to  disgust  the  French  people  with  kings,  by 
showing  them  such  a  specimen,  as  the  Spartans  disgusted 
their  children  with  drunkenness  by  exhibiting  to  them  a 
drunken  slave." 

"  Not  so,  not  so,  my  dear  sir,"  replied  the  First  Consul. 
"  I  have  no  desire  to  disgust  them  with  royalty ;  but  the 
sojourn  of  the  King  of  Etruria  will  annoy  a  number  of 
good  people  who  are  working  incessantly  to  create  a  feel- 
ing favorable  to  the  Bourbons."  Don  Louis,  perhaps,  did 
not  merit  such  severity,  although  he  was,  it  must  be 
admitted,  endowed  with  little  mind,  and  few  agreeable 
traits  of  character.  When  he  dined  at  the  Tuileries,  he 
was  much  embarrassed  in  replying  to  the  simplest  ques- 
tions the  First  Consul  addressed  him.  Beyond  the  rain 
and  the  weather,  horses,  dogs,  and  other  like  subjects 
of  conversation,  he  could  not  give  an  intelligent  reply  on 
any  subject.  The  Queen,  his  wife,  often  made  signs  to 
put  him  on  the  right  road,  and  even  whispered  to  him, 
what  he  should  say  or  do ;  but  this  rendered  only  the  more 
conspicuous  his  absolute  want  of  presence  of  mind.  People 
made  themselves  merry  at  his  expense ;  but  they  took  good 
care,  however,  not  to  do  this  in  the  presence  of  the  First 
Consul,  who  would  not  have  suffered  any  want  of  respect  to 
a  guest  to  whom  he  had  shown  so  much.  What  gave 
rise  to  the  greatest  number  of  pleasantries,  in  regard 
to  the  prince,  was  his  excessive  economy,  which  reached  a 
point  truly  incredible.  Innumerable  instances  were  quoted, 
of  which  this  is  perhaps  the  most  striking.  The  First  Con- 


116  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

sul  sent  him  frequently  during  his  stay,  magnificent 
presents,  such  as  Savonnerie  carpets,  Lyons  cloths,  and 
Sevres  porcelain ;  and  on  such  occasions  his  Majesty  would 
give  some  small  gratuity  to  the  bearers  of  these  precious 
articles.  One  day  a  vase  of  very  great  value  (it  cost,  I 
believe,  a  hundred  thousand  crowns)  was  brought  him 
which  it  required  a  dozen  workmen  to  place  in  the  apart- 
ments of  the  king.  Their  work  being  finished,  the  work- 
men waited  until  his  Majesty  should  give  them  some  token 
of  his  satisfaction,  and  flattered  themselves  he  would  dis- 
play a  truly  royal  liberality.  As,  notwithstanding,  time 
passed,  and  the  expected  gratuity  did  not  arrive,  they 
finally  applied  to  one  of  his  chamberlains,  and  asked  him  to 
lay  their  petition  at  the  feet  of  the  King  of  Etruria.  His 
Majesty,  who  was  still  hi  ecstasy  over  the  beauty  of  the 
present,  and  the  munificence  of  the  First  Consul,  was  as- 
tounded at  such  a  request.  "  It  was  a  present,"  said  he ; 
"  and  hence  it  was  for  him  to  receive,  not  to  give;"  and  it 
was  only  after  much  persistence  that  the  chamberlain  ob- 
tained six  francs  for  each  of  these  workmen,  which  were 
refused  by  these  good  people.  The  persons  of  the  prince's 
suite  asserted  that  to  this  extreme  aversion  to  expense  he 
added  an  excessive  severity  towards  themselves;  however, 
the  first  of  these  traits  probably  disposed  the  servants  of 
the  King  of  Etruria  to  exaggerate  the  second. 

Masters  who  are  too  economical  never  fail  to  be  deemed 
severe  themselves,  and  at  the  same  time  are  "severely  criti- 
cised by  their  servants.  For  this  reason,  perhaps  (I  would 
say  in  passing),  there  is  current  among  some  people  a  cal- 
umny which  represents  the  Emperor  as  often  taking  a  fancy 
to  beat  his  servants.  The  economy  of  the  Emperor  Napo- 


HAUGHTINESS   OF  THE  KING.  117 

leon  was  only  a  desire  for  the  most  perfect  order  in  the 
expenses  of  his  household.  One  thing  I  can  positively 
assert  in  regard  to  his  Majesty,  the  King  of  Etruria,  is  that 
he  did  not  sincerely  feel  either  all  the  enthusiasm  or  all  the 
gratitude  which  he  expressed  towards  the  First  Consul,  and 
the  latter  had  more  than  one  proof  of  this  insincerity. 
As  to  the  king's  talent  for  governing  and  reigning,  the 
First  Consul  said  to  Cambaceres  at  his  levee,  in  the  same 
conversation  from  which  I  have  already  quoted,  that  the 
Spanish  Ambassador  had  complained  of  the  haughtiness 
of  this  prince  towards  him,  of  his  extreme  ignorance,  and 
of  the  disgust  with  which  all  kind  of  business  inspired  him. 
Such  was  the  king  who  went  to  govern  part  of  Italy,  and 
was  installed  in  his  kingdom  by  General  Murat,  who  appar- 
ently had  little  idea  that  a  throne  was  in  store  for  himself, 
a  few  leagues  distant  from  that  on  which  he  seated  Don 
Luis. 

The  Queen  of  Etruria  was,  in  the  opinion  of  the  First 
Consul,  more  sagacious  and  prudent  than  her  august  hus- 
band. This  princess  was  remarkable  neither  for  grace  nor 
elegance ;  she  dressed  herself  in  the  morning  for  the  whole 
day,  and  walked  in  the  garden,  her  head  adorned  with 
flowers  or  a  diadem,  and  wearing  a  dress,  the  train  of 
which  swept  up  the  sand  of  the  walks ;  often,  also,  carrying 
in  her  arms  one  of  her  children,  still  in  long  dresses,  from 
which  it  can  be  readily  understood  that  by  night  the  toilet 
of  her  Majesty  was  somewhat  disarranged.  She  was  far 
from  pretty,  and  her  manners  were  not  suited  to  her  rank. 
But,  which  fully  atoned  for  all  this,  she  was  good-tempered, 
much  beloved  by  those  in  her  service,  and  fulfilled  scrupu- 
lously all  the  duties  of  wife  and  mother ;  and  in  conse- 


118  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

quence  the  First  Consul,  who  made  a  great  point  of  domes- 
tic virtues,  professed  for  her  the  highest  and  most  sincere 
esteem. 

During  the  entire  month  which  their  Majesties  spent 
in  Paris,  there  was  a  succession  of  fetes,  one  of  which 
Talleyrand  gave  in  their  honor  at  Neuilly,  of  great  mag- 
nificence and  splendor,  and  to  which  I,  being  on  duty, 
accompanied  the  First  Consul.  The  chateau  and  park 
were  illuminated  with  a  brilliant  profusion  of  colored 
lights.  First  there  was  a  concert,  at  the  close  of  which 
the  end  of  the  hall  was  moved  aside,  like  the  curtain  of  a 
theater,  and  we  beheld  the  principal  square  in  Florence, 
the  ducal  palace,  a  fountain  playing,  and  the  Tuscans  giv- 
ing themselves  up  to  the  games  and  dances  of  their  country, 
and  singing  couplets  in  honor  of  their  sovereigns.  Talley- 
rand came  forward,  and  requested  their  Majesties  to  mingle 
with  their  subjects ;  and  hardly  had  they  set  foot  in  the 
garden  than  they  found  themselves  in  fairyland,  where  fire- 
works, rockets,  and  Bengal  fires  burst  out  in  every  direc- 
tion and  in  every  form,  colonnades,  arches  of  triumph,  and 
palaces  of  fire  arose,  disappeared,  and  succeeded  each  other 
incessantly.  Numerous  tables  were  arranged  in  the  apart- 
ments and  in  the  garden,  at  which  all  the  spectators  were 
in  turn  seated,  and  last  of  all  a  magnificent  ball  closed 
this  evening  of  enchantments.  It  was  opened  by  the  King 
of  Etruria  and  Madame  Le  Clerc  (Pauline  Borghese). 

Madame  de  Montesson  also  gave  to  their  Majesties  a 
ball,  at  which  the  whole  family  of  the  First  Consul  was 
present.  But  of  all  these  entertainments,  I  retain  the  most 
vivid  recollection  of  that  given  by  Chaptal,  Minister  of 
the  Interior,  the  day  which  he  chose  being  the  fourteenth 


BALL   GIVEN  BY  CHAPTAL.  119 

of  June,  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Marengo.  After 
the  concert,  the  theater,  the  ball,  and  another  representa- 
tion of  the  city  and  inhabitants  of  Florence,  a  splendid 
supper  was  served  in  the  garden,  under  military  tents, 
draped  with  flags,  and  ornamented  with  groupings  of  arms 
and  trophies,  each  lady  being  accompanied  and  served  at 
table  by  an  officer  in  uniform.  When  the  King  and  Queen 
of  Etruria  came  out  of  their  tent,  a  balloon  was  released 
which  carried  into  the  heavens  the  name  of  Marengo  in 
letters  of  fire. 

Their  Majesties  wished  to  visit,  before  their  departure, 
the  chief  public  institutions,  so  they  were  taken  to  the  Con- 
servatory of  Music,  to  a  sitting  of  the  Institute,  of  which 
they  did  not  appear  to  comprehend  much,  and  to  the 
Mint,  where  a  medal  was  struck  in  their  honor.  Chaptal1 
received  the  thanks  of  the  queen  for  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  entertained  and  treated  his  royal  guests,  both  as  a 
member  of  the  Institute,  as  minister  at  his  hotel,  and  in  the 
visits  which  they  had  made  to  the  different  institutions  of 
the  capital.  On  the  eve  of  his  departure  the  king  had  a 
long  private  interview  with  the  First  Consul ;  and  though  I 
do  not  know  what  passed,  I  observed  that  on  coming  out 
neither  appeared  to  be  satisfied  with  the  other.  However, 
their  Majesties,  on  the  whole,  should  have  carried  away 
a  most  favorable  impression  of  the  manner  in  which  they 
had  been  received. 

1  Jean  Antoine  Chaptal,  Count  de  Chanteloup,  a  distinguished  chemist 
and  statesman,  was  born  at  Nogaret  (Lozere),  1756.  In  1781,  Professor  of 
Chemistry  at  Montpellier;  in  1796,  member  of  the  Institute,  then  just  founded ; 
Councillor  of  State,  1800 ;  and  Minister  of  the  Interior,  1801-1805 ;  in  1805  Sena- 
tor; later  created  Count;  in  Chamber  of  Peers,  1819.  Died  1832. — TEAKS. 


120  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Infatuation  of  a  crazy  fellow  for  Hortense.  —  Marriage  of  Louis  Bonaparte 
and  Hortense. — Regrets.  —  Character  of  M.  Louis.  —  Atrocious  calumny 
against  the  Emperor  and  his  step-daughter.  —  General  Duroc  marries 
Mademoiselle  Hervas  d'Almenara. —  Character  of  this  lady.  —  Piano 
broken  and  watch  dashed  to  pieces. — Marriage  and  sadness.  —  Misfor- 
tunes of  Hortense,  before,  during,  and  after  her  elevation.  —  Visit  of  the 
First  Consul  to  Lyons.  —  Festivals  and  congratulations.  —  The  soldiers  of 
Egypt.  —  The  legate  of  the  Pope.  —  The  deputies  of  the  College  of  Car- 
dinals.—  Death  of  the  Archbishop  of  Milan.  —  Stanzas  on  the  occasion. 
—  The  poets  of  the  Empire. — The  First  Consul  and  his  writing-master. 
— The  Abbe  Dupuis,  librarian  at  Malmaison. 

IN  all  the  fetes  given  by  the  First  Consul  in  honor  of 
their  Majesties,  the  King  and  Queen  of  Etruria,  Mademoi- 
selle Hortense  shone  with  that  brilliancy  and  grace  which 
made  her  the  pride  of  her  mother,  and  the  most  beautiful 
ornament  of  the  growing  court  of  the  First  Consul. 

About  this  time  she  inspired  a  most  violent  passion 
in  a  gentleman  of  a  very  good  family,  who  was,  I  think, 
a  little  deranged  before  this  mad  love  affected  his  brain. 
This  poor  unfortunate  roamed  incessantly  around  Mal- 
maison; and  as  soon  as  Mademoiselle  Hortense  left  the 
house,  ran  by  the  side  of  her  carriage  with  the  liveliest 
demonstrations  of  tenderness,  and  threw  through  the  win- 
dow flowers,  locks  of  his  hair,  and  verses  of  his  own 
composition.  When  he  met  Mademoiselle  Hortense  on 
foot,  he  threw  himself  on  his  knees  before  her  with  a 
thousand  passionate  gestures,  addressing  her  in  most  en- 
dearing terms,  and  followed  her,  in  spite  of  all  opposition, 


MARRIAGE  OF  HORTENSE.  121 

even  into  the  courtyard  of  the  chateau,  and  abandoned  him- 
self to  all  kinds  of  folly.  At  first  Mademoiselle  Hortense, 
who  was  young  and  gay,  was  amused  by  the  antics  of 
her  admirer,  read  the  verses  which  he  addressed  to  her, 
and  showed  them  to  the  ladies  who  accompanied  her.  One 
such  poetical  effusion  was  enough  to  provoke  laughter  (and 
can  you  blame  her  ?) ;  but  after  the  first  burst  of  laughter, 
Mademoiselle  Hortense,  good  and  charming  as  her  mother, 
never  failed  to  say,  with  a  sympathetic  expression  and 
tone,  "The  poor  man,  he  is  much  to  be  pitied!"  At  last, 
however,  the  importunities  of  the  poor  madman  increased  to 
such  an  extent  that  they  became  insupportable.  He  placed 
himself  at  the  door  of  the  theaters  in  Paris  at  which  Made- 
moiselle Hortense  was  expected,  and  threw  himself  at  her 
feet,  supplicating,  weeping,  laughing,  and  gesticulating  all 
at  once.  This  spectacle  amused  the  crowd  too  much  to 
long  amuse  Mademoiselle  de  Beauharnais  ;  and  Carrat  was 
ordered  to  remove  the  poor  fellow,  who  was  placed,  I  think, 
in  a  private  asylum  for  the  insane. 

Mademoiselle  Hortense  would  have  been  too  happy  if 
she  could  have  known  love  only  from  the  absurd  effects 
which  it  produced  on  this  diseased  brain,  as  she  thus  saw  it 
only  in  its  pleasant  and  comic  aspect.  But  the  time  came 
when  she  was  forced  to  feel  all  that  is  painful  and  bitter  in 
the  experience  of  that  passion.  In  January,  1802,  she  was 
married  to  Louis  Bonaparte,  brother  of  the  First  Consul, 
which  was  a  most  suitable  alliance  as  regards  age,  Louis 
being  twenty-four  years  old,  and  Mademoiselle  de  Beau- 
harnais not  more  than  eighteen;  and  nevertheless  it  was 
to  both  parties  the  beginning  of  long  and  interminable 
sorrows. 


122  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Louis,  however,  was  kind  and  sensible,  full  of  good 
feeling  and  intelligence,  studious  and  fond  of  letters,  like 
all  his  brothers  (except  one  alone l )  ;  but  he  was  in  feeble 
health,  suffered  almost  incessantly,  and  .was  of  a  melancholy 
disposition.  All  the  brothers  of  the  First  Consul  resembled 
him  more  or  less  in  their  personal  appearance,  and  Louis 
still  more  than  the  others,  especially  at  the  time  of  the 
Consulate,  and  before  the  Emperor  Napoleon  had  become 
so  stout.  But  none  of  the  brothers  of  the  Emperor  pos- 
sessed that  imposing  and  majestic  air  and  that  rapid  and 
imperious  manner  which  came  to  him  at  first  by  instinct, 
and  afterwards  from  the  habit  of  command.  Louis  had 
peaceful  and  modest  tastes.  It  has  been  asserted  that  at 
the  time  of  his  marriage  he  was  deeply  attached  to  a  person 
whose  name  could  not  be  ascertained,  and  who,  I  think,  is 
still  a  mystery. 

Mademoiselle  Hortense  was  extremely  pretty,  with  an  ex- 
pressive and  mobile  countenance,  and  in  addition  to  this  was 
graceful,  talented,  and  affable.  Kindhearted  and  amiable 
like  her  mother,  she  had  not  that  excessive  desire  to  oblige 
which  sometimes  detracted  from  Madame  Bonaparte's  char- 
acter. This  is,  nevertheless,  the  woman  whom  evil  reports, 
disseminated  by  miserable  scandal-mongers,  have  so  out- 
rageously slandered  !  My  heart  is  stirred  with  disgust  and 
indignation  when  I  hear  such  revolting  absurdities  repeated 
and  scattered  broadcast.  According  to  these  honest  fab- 
ricators, the  First  Consul  must  have  seduced  his  wife's 
daughter,  before  giving  her  in  marriage  to  his  own  brother. 
Simply  to  announce  such  a  charge  is  to  comprehend  all  the 
falsity  of  it.  I  knew  better  than  any  one  the  amours  of  the 
1  Jerome. — TRANS. 


CHARACTER   OF  HORTENSF  123 

Emperor.  In  these  clandestine  liaisons  he  feared  scandal, 
hated  the  ostentations  of  vice,  and  I  can  affirm  on  honor 
that  the  infamous  desires  attributed  to  him  never  entered 
his  mind.  Like  every  one  else,  who  was  near  Mademoiselle 
de  Beauharnais,  and  because  he  knew  his  step-daughter 
even  more  intimately,  he  felt  for  her  the  tenderest  affection; 
but  this  sentiment  was  entirely  paternal,  and  Mademoiselle 
Hortense  reciprocated  it  by  that  reverence  which  a  well- 
born young  girl  feels  towards  her  father.  She  could  have 
obtained  from  her  step-father  anything  that  she  wished,  if 
her  extreme  timidity  had  not  prevented  her  asking ;  but, 
instead  of  addressing  herself  directly  to  him,  she  first  had 
recourse  to  the  intercession  of  the  secretary,  and  of  those 
around  the  Emperor.  Is  it  thus  she  would  have  acted  if 
the  evil  reports  spread  by  her  enemies,  and  those  of  the 
Emperor,  had  had  the  least  foundation? 

Before  her  marriage  Hortense  had  an  attachment  for 
General  Duroc,  who  was  hardly  thirty  years  of  age,  had  a 
fine  figure,  and  was  a  favorite  with  the  chief  of  state,  who, 
knowing  him  to  be  prudent  and  discreet,  confided  to  him 
important  diplomatic  missions.  As  aide-de-camp  of  the 
First  Consul,  general  of  division,  and  governor  of  the 
Tuileries,  he  lived  long  in  familiar  intimacy  at  Malmaison, 
and  in  the  home  life  of  the  Emperor,  and  during  necessary 
absences  on  duty,  corresponded  with  Mademoiselle  Hor- 
tense ;  and  yet  the  indifference  with  which  he  allowed 
the  marriage  of  the  latter  with  Louis  to  proceed,  proves 
that  he  reciprocated  but  feebly  the  affection  which  he  had 
inspired.  It  is  certain  that  he  could  have  had  Mademoiselle 
de  Beauharnais  for  his  wife,  if  he  had  been  willing  to  accept 
the  conditions  011  which  the  First  Consul  offered  the  hand 


124  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  his  step-daughter ;  but  he  was  expecting  something  better, 
and  his  ordinary  prudence  failed  him  at  the  time  when  it 
should  have  shown  him  a  future  which  was  easy  to  foresee, 
and  calculated  to  satisfy  the  promptings  of  an  ambition 
even  more  exalted  than  his.  He  therefore  refused  posi- 
tively ;  and  the  entreaties  of  Madame  Bonaparte,  which  had 
already  influenced  her  husband,  succeeded. 

Madame  Bonaparte,  who  saw  herself  treated  with  so 
little  friendship  by  the  brothers  of  the  First  Consul,  tried 
to  make  his  family  a  defense  for  herself  against  the  plots 
which  were  gathering  incessantly  around  her  to  drive  her 
away  from  the  heart  of  her  husband.  It  was  with  this 
design  she  worked  with  all  her  might  to  bring  about  the 
marriage  of  her  daughter  with  one  of  her  brothers-in- 
law. 

General  Duroc  doubtless  repented  immediately  of  his 
precipitate  refusal  when  crowns  began  to  rain  in  the  august 
family  to  which  he  had  had  it  in  his  power  to  ally  himself ; 
when  he  saw  Naples,  Spain,  Westphalia,  Upper  Italy,  the 
duchies  of  Parma,  Lucca,  etc.,  become  the  appendages  of 
the  new  imperial  dynasty ;  when  the  beautiful  and  graceful 
Hortense  herself,  who  had  loved  him  so  devotedly,  mounted 
in  her  turn  a  throne  that  she  would  have  been  only  too 
happy  to  have  shared  with  the  object  of  her  young  affec- 
tions. As  for  him,  he  married  Mademoiselle  Hervas 
d'Almenara,  daughter  of  the  banker  of  the  court  of  Spain. 
She  was  a  little  woman  with  a  very  dark  complexion,  very 
thin,  and  without  grace ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  of  a  most 
peevish,  haughty,  exacting,  and  capricious  temper.  As  she 
was  to  have  on  her  marriage  an  enormous  dowry,  the  First 
Consul  had  demanded  her  hand  in  marriage  for  his  senior 


MADAME  DUROC.  125 

aide-de-camp.  Madame  Duroc  forgot  herself,  I  have  heard, 
so  far  as  to  beat  her  servants,  and  to  bear  herself  in  a  most 
singular  manner  toward  people  who  were  in  no  wise  her 
dependants.  When  M.  Dubois  came  to  tune  her  piano, 
unfortunately  she  was  at  home,  and  finding  the  noise 
required  by  this  operation  unendurable,  drove  the  tuner 
off  with  the  greatest  violence.  In  one  of  these  singular 
attacks  she  one  day  broke  all  the  keys  of  his  instrument. 
Another  time  Mugnier,  clockmaker  of  the  Emperor,  and 
the  head  of  his  profession  in  Paris,  with  Breguet,  having 
brought  her  a  watch  of  very  great  value  that  madame,  the 
Duchess  of  Friuli l  had  herself  ordered,  but  which  did  not 
please  her,  she  became  so  enraged,  that,  in  the  presence  of 
Mugnier,  she  dashed  the  watch  on  the  floor,  danced  on  it, 
and  reduced  it  to  atoms.  She  utterly  refused  to  pay  for  it, 
and  the  marshal  2  was  compelled  to  do  this  himself.  Thus 
Duroc's  want  of  foresight  in  refusing  the  hand  of  Hortense, 
together  with  the  interested  calculations  of  Madame  Bona- 
parte, caused  the  misery  of  two  households. 

The  portrait  I  have  sketched,  and  I  believe  faithfully, 
although  not  a  flattering  picture,  is  merely  that  of  a  young 
woman  with  all  the  impulsiveness  of  the  Spanish  character, 
spoiled  as  an  only  daughter,  who  had  been  reared  in  indul- 
gence, and  with  the  entire  neglect  which  hinders  the  educa- 
tion of  all  the  young  ladies  of  her  country.  Time  has 
calmed  the  vivacity  of  her  youth ;  and  madame,  the  Duchess 
of  Friuli,  has  since  given  an  example  of  most  faithful  devo- 
tion to  duty,  and  great  strength  of  mind  in  the  severe 
trials  that  she  has  endured.  In  the  loss  of  her  husband, 

1  Duroc  was  created  Duko  of  Friuli  by  the  Emperor.  —  TKANS. 

2  Duroc  was  grand  marshal  of  the  palace.  —  TK.ANS. 


126  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

however  grievous  it  might  be,  glory  had  at  least  some  con- 
solation to  offer  to  the  widow  of  the  grand  marshal.  But 
when  her  young  daughter,  sole  heiress  of  a  great  name  and 
an  illustrious  title,  was  suddenly  taken  away  by  death  from 
all  the  expectations  and  the  devotion  of  her  mother,  who 
could  dare  to  offer  her  consolation  ?  If  there  could  be  any 
(which  I  do  not  believe),  it  would  be  found  in  the  remem- 
brance of  the  cares  and  tenderness  lavished  on  her  to  the 
last  by  maternal  love.  Such  recollections,  in  which  bitter- 
ness is  mingled  with  sweetness,  were  not  wanting  to  the 
duchess. 

The  religious  ceremony  of  marriage  between  Louis  and 
Hortense  took  place  Jan.  7,  in  a  house  in  the  Rue  de  la 
Victoire ;  and  the  marriage  of  General  Murat  with  Caro- 
line Bonaparte,  which  had  been  acknowledged  only  before 
the  civil  authorities,  was  consecrated  on  the  same  day. 
Both  Louis  and  his  bride  were  very  sad.  She  wept  bit- 
terly during  the  whole  ceremony,  and  her  tears  were  not 
soon  dried.  She  made  no  attempt  to  win  the  affection  of 
her  husband ;  while  he,  on  his  side,  was  too  proud  and  too 
deeply  wounded  to  pursue  her  with  his  wooing.  The  good 
Josephine  did  all  she  could  to  reconcile  them ;  for  she  must 
have  felt  that  this  union,  which  had  begun  so  badly,  was 
her  work,  in  which  she  had  tried  to  combine  her  own 
interest,  or  at  least  that  which  she  considered  such,  and 
the  happiness  of  her  daughter.  But  her  efforts,  as  well  as 
her  advice  and  her  prayers,  availed  nothing;  and  I  have 
many  a  time  seen  Hortense  seek  the  solitude  of  her  own 
room,  and  the  heart  of  a  friend,  there  to  pour  out  her 
tears.  Tears  -fell  from  her  eyes  sometimes  even  in  the 
midst  of  one  of  the  First  Consul's  receptions,  where  we 


UNUAPPINESS   OF  HOETENSE.  127 

saw  with  sorrow  this  young  woman,  brilliant  and  gay,  who 
had  so  often  gracefully  done  the  honors  on  such  occasions 
and  attended  to  all  the  details  of  its  etiquette,  retire  into 
a  corner,  or  into  the  embrasure  of  a  window,  with  one  of 
her  most  intimate  friends,  there  to  sadly  make  her  the 
confidante  of  her  trials.  During  this  conversation,  from 
which  she  rose  with  red  and  swollen  eyes,  her  husband 
remained  thoughtful  and  taciturn  at  the  opposite  end  of 
the  room. 

Her  Majesty,  the  Queen  of  Holland,  has  been  accused  of 
many  sins ;  but  everything  said  or  written  against  tliis  prin- 
cess is  marked  by  shameful  exaggeration.  So  high  a  for- 
tune drew  all  eyes  to  her,  and  excited  bitter  jealousy; 
and  yet  those  who  envied  her  would  not  have  failed  to 
bemoan  themselves,  if  they  had  been  put  in  her  place,  on 
condition  that  they  were  to  bear  her  griefs.  The  misfor- 
tunes of  Queen  Hortense  began  with  life  itself.  Her  father 
having  been  executed  on  a  revolutionary  scaffold,  and  her 
mother  thrown  into  prison,  she  found  herself,  while  still  a 
child,  alone,  and  with  no  other  reliance  than  the  faithful- 
ness of  the  old  servants  of  the  family.  Her  brother,  the 
noble  and  worthy  Prince  Eugene,  had  been  compelled,  it  is 
said,  to  serve  as  an  apprentice.  She  had  a  few  years  of 
happiness,  or  at  least  of  repose,  during  the  time  she  was 
under  the  care  of  Madame  Campan,  and  just  after  she  left 
boarding-school.  But  her  evil  destiny  was  far  from  quit- 
ting her ;  and  her  wishes  being  thwarted,  an  unhappy  mar- 
riage opened  for  her  a  new  succession  of  troubles.  The 
death  of  her  first  son,  whom  the  Emperor  wished  to  adopt, 
and  whom  he  had  intended  to  be  his  successor  in  the  Em- 
pire, the  divorce  of  her  mother,  the  tragic  death  of  her 


128  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

best-loved  friend,  Madame  de  Brocq,1  who,  before  her  eyes, 
slipped  over  a  precipice;  the  overturning  of  the  imperial 
throne,  which  caused  her  the  loss  of  her  title  and  rank  as 
queen,  a  loss  which  she,  however,  felt  less  than  the  mis- 
fortunes of  him  whom  she  regarded  as  her  father;  and 
finally,  the  continual  annoyance  of  domestic  dissensions,  of 
vexatious  lawsuits,  and  the  agony  she  suffered  in  behold- 
ing her  oldest  surviving  son  removed  from  her  by  order 
of  her  husband, — such  were  the  principal  catastrophes  in 
a  life  which  might  have  been  thought  destined  for  so  much 
happiness. 

The  day  after  the  marriage  of  Mademoiselle  Hortense, 
the  First  Consul  set  out  for  Lyons,  where  there  awaited  him 
the  deputies  of  the  Cisalpine  Republic,  assembled  for  the 
election  of  a  president.  Everywhere  on  his  route  he  was 
welcomed  with  fetes  and  congratulations,  with  which  all 
were  eager  to  overwhelm  him  on  account  of  the  miraculous 
manner  in  which  he  had  escaped  the  plots  of  his  enemies. 
This  journey  differed  in  no  wise  from  the  tours  which  he 

1  Mademoiselle  Adele  Auguie",  sister  of  the  wife  of  Marshal  Ney,  had 
married  General  de  Brocq,  Grand  Marshal  of  the  court  of  Holland.  Her  Maj- 
esty, Queen  Hortense,  being  at  the  waters  of  Aix  in  Savoy,  in  1812,  took  much 
pleasure  in  making  with  her  friend  excursions  over  the  steepest  mountains. 
In  one  of  these  excursions  a  torrent  was  found  in  their  way,  and  across  it  only 
a  fragile  plank.  The  queen,  led  by  her  guide,  passed  first ;  and  she  turned  to 
encourage  Madame  de  Brocq,  when  she  saw  her  slipping  and  gliding  straight 
down  the  precipice.  At  this  horrible  sight  the  queen  uttered  piercing  cries. 
Her  agitation  did  not  deprive  her  of  her  presence  of  mind.  She  gave  orders, 
multiplied  her  prayers  and  promises.  But  all  help  was  useless.  The  body  of 
the  young  lady  had  been  broken  to  pieces  by  the  fall,  and  some  time  passed 
before  the  cold  and  mutilated  body  could  be  gotten  out  of  the  water.  The  un- 
fortunate remains  were  carried  to  Sainte  Leu,  where  all  the  inhabitants  were 
plunged  into  the  deepest  grief.  Madame  de  Brocq  had  charge  of  distributing 
the  numerous  charities  of  the  queen.  She  deserved  all  the  tears  that  her 
death  caused  to  be  shed.  —  Note  by  CONSTANT. 


THE  FIRST  CONSUL  AT  LYONS.  129 

afterwards  made  as  Emperor.  On  his  arrival  at  Lyons,  he 
received  the  visit  of  all  the  authorities,  the  constituent 
bodies,  the  deputations  from  the  neighboring  departments, 
and  the  members  of  the  Italian  councils.  Madame  Bona- 
parte, who  accompanied  him  on  this  journey,  attended  with 
him  these  public  displays,  and  shared  with  him  the  magnifi- 
cent fete  given  to  him  by  the  city  of  Lyons.  The  day  on 
which  the  council  elected  and  proclaimed  the  First  Consul 
president  of  the  Italian  Republic  he  reviewed,  on  the  Place 
des  Brotteaux,  the  troops  of  the  garrison,  and  recognized 
in  the  ranks  many  soldiers  of  the  army  of  Egypt,  with 
whom  he  conversed  for  some  time.  On  all  these  occasions 
the  First  Consul  wore  the  same  costume  that  he  had  worn 
at  Malmaison,  and  which  I  have  described  elsewhere.  He 
rose  early,  mounted  his  horse,  and  visited  the  public  works, 
among  others  those  of  the  Place  Belcour,  of  which  he 
had  laid  the  corner-stone  on  his  return  from  Italy,  passed 
through  the  Place  des  Brotteaux,  inspected,  examined 
everything,  and,  always  indefatigable,  worked  on  his  re- 
turn as  if  he  had  been  at  the  Tuileries.  He  rarely 
changed  his  dress,  except  when  he  received  at  his  table 
the  authorities  or  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  city.  He 
received  all  petitions  most  graciously,  and  before  leaving 
presented  to  the  mayor  of  the  city  a  scarf  of  honor,  and 
to  the  legate  of  the  Pope  a  handsome  snuff-box  orna- 
mented with  his  likeness. 

The  deputies  of  the  council  received  presents,  and  were 
most  generous  in  making  them,  presenting  Madame  Bona- 
parte with  magnificent  ornaments  of  diamonds  and  precious 
stones,  and  other  most  valuable  jewelry. 

The  First  Consul,  on  arriving  at  Lyons,  had  been  deeply 


130  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

grieved  at  the  sudden  death  of  a  worthy  prelate  whom  he 
had  known  in  his  first  campaign  in  Italy. 

The  Archbishop  of  Milan  had  come  to  Lyons,  notwith- 
standing his  great  age,  in  order  to  see  the  First  Consul, 
whom  he  loved  with  such  tenderness  that  in  conversation 
the  venerable  old  man  continually  addressed  the  young  gen- 
eral as  "  my  son."  The  peasants  of  Pavia,  having  revolted 
because  their  fanaticism  had  been  excited  by  false  asser- 
tions that  the  French  wished  to  destroy  their  religion,  the 
Archbishop  of  Milan,  in  order  to  prove  that  their  fears  were 
groundless,  often  showed  himself  in  a  carriage  with  General 
Bonaparte. 

This  prelate  had  stood  the  journey  well,  and  appeared 
in  good  health  and  fine  spirits.  Talleyrand,  who  had  ar- 
rived at  Lyons  a  few  days  before  the  First  Consul,  gave 
a  dinner  to  the  Cisalpine  deputies  and  the  principal  notables 
of  the  city,  at  which  the  Archbishop  of  Milan  sat  on  his 
right.  He  had  scarcely  taken  his  seat,  and  was  in  the  act 
of  leaning  forward  to  speak  to  M.  de  Talleyrand,  when  he 
fell  dead  in  his  armchair. 

On  the  12th  of  January  the  town  of  Lyons  gave,  in 
honor  of  the  First  Consul  and  Madame  Bonaparte,  a  mag- 
nificent fete,  consisting  of  a  concert,  followed  by  a  ball. 
At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  three  mayors,  accom- 
panied by  the  superintendents  of  the  fete,  called  upon  their 
illustrious  guests  in  the  government  palace.  I  can  imagine 
that  I  see  again  spread  out  before  me  that  immense  amphi- 
theater, handsomely  decorated,  and  illuminated  by  innumer- 
able lusters  and  candles,  the  seats  draped  with  the  richest 
cloths  manufactured  in  the  city,  and  filled  with  thousands 
of  women,  some  brilliant  in  youth  and  beauty,  and  all  mag- 


THE  FETE  AT  LYONS.  131 

nificently  attired.  The  theater  had  been  chosen  as  the 
place  of  the  fete  ;  and  on  the  entrance  of  the  First  Consul 
and  Madame  Bonaparte,  who  advanced  leaning  on  the  arm 
of  one  of  the  mayors,  there  arose  a  thunder  of  applause 
and  acclamations.  Suddenly  the  decorations  of  the  theater 
faded  from  sight,  and  the  Place  Bonaparte  (the  former 
Place  Belcour)  appeared,  as  it  had  been  restored  by  order 
of  the  First  Consul.  In  the  midst  rose  a  pyramid,  sur- 
mounted by  the  statue  of  the  First  Consul,  who  was  rep- 
resented as  resting  upon  a  lion.  Trophies  of  arms  and 
bas-reliefs  represented  on  one  side  the  battle  of  Arcola,  on 
the  other  that  of  Marengo. 

When  the  first  transports  excited  by  this  spectacle, 
which  recalled  at  once  the  benefits  and  the  victories  of 
the  hero  of  the  fete,  had  subsided,  there  succeeded  a 
deep  silence,  and  delightful  music  was  heard,  mingled 
with  songs,  dedicated  to  the  glory  of  the  First  Consul,  to 
his  wife,  the  warriors  who  surrounded  him,  and  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Italian  republics.  The  singers  and  the 
musicians  were  amateurs  of  Lyons.  Mademoiselle  Longue, 
Gerbet,  the  postmaster,  and  Theodore,  the  merchant,  who 
had  each  performed  their  parts  in  a  charming  manner,  re- 
ceived the  congratulations  of  the  First  Consul,  and  the 
most  gracious  thanks  of  Madame  Bonaparte. 

What  struck  me  most  forcibly  in  the  couplets  which 
were  sung  on  that  occasion,  and  which  much  resembled  all 
verses  written  for  such  occasions,  was  that  incense  was  of- 
fered to  the  First  Consul  in  the  very  terms  which  all  the 
poets  of  the  Empire  have  since  used  in  their  turn.  All 
the  exaggerations  of  flattery  were  exhausted  during  the 
Consulate  ;  and  in  the  years  which  followed,  it  was  neces- 


132  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

sary  for  poets  often  to  repeat  themselves.  Thus,  in  the 
couplets  of  Lyons,  the  First  Consul  was  the  Grod  of  vic- 
tory, the  conqueror  of  the  Nile  and  of  Neptune,  the  savior 
of  his  country,  the  peacemaker  of  the  world,  the  arbiter  of 
Europe.  The  French  soldiers  were  transformed  into  friends 
and  companions  of  Alcides,  etc.,  all  of  which  was  cutting 
the  ground  from  under  the  feet  of  the  singers  of  the  future. 

The  fete  of  Lyons  ended  in  a  ball  which  lasted  until 
daylight,  at  which  the  First  Consul  remained  two  hours, 
which  he  spent  in  conversation  with  the  magistrates  of  the 
city.  While  the  better  class  of  the  inhabitants  gave  these 
grand  entertainments  to  their  guests,  the  people,  notwith- 
standing the  cold,  abandoned  themselves  on  the  public 
squares  to  pleasure  and  dancing,  and  towards  midnight 
there  was  a  fine  display  of  fireworks  on  the  Place 
Bonaparte. 

After  fifteen  or  eighteen  days  passed  at  Lyons,  we 
returned  to  Paris,  the  First  Consul  and  his  wife  continu- 
ing to  reside  by  preference  at  Malmaison.  It  was,  I  think, 
a  short  time  after  the  return  of  the  First  Consul  that  a 
poorly  dressed  man  begged  an  audience  ;  an  order  was 
given  to  admit  him  to  the  cabinet,  and  the  First  Consul 
inquired  his  name.  "  General,"  replied  the  petitioner, 
frightened  by  his  presence,  "  it  is  I  who  had  the  honor  of 
giving  you  writing  lessons  in  the  school  of  Brienne." 
"Fine  scholar  you  have  made!"  interrupted  vehemently 
the  First  Consul;  "I  compliment  you  on  it!"  Then  he 
began  to  laugh  at  his  own  vehemence,  and  addressed  a 
few  kind  words  "to  this  good  man,  whose  timidity  such  a 
compliment  had  not  reassured.  A  few  days  after  the  mas- 
ter received,  from  the  least  promising,  doubtless,  of  all  his 


THE  ABBE  DUPUIS.  133 

pupils  at  Brienne  (you  know  how  the  Emperor  wrote),  a 
pension  amply  sufficient  for  his  needs. 

Another  of  the  old  teachers  of  the  First  Consul,  the 
Abbe  Dupuis,  was  appointed  by  him  to  the  post  of  private 
librarian  at  Malmaison,  and  lived  and  died  there.  He  was 
a  modest  man,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  well-edu- 
cated. The  First  Consul  visited  him  often  in  his  room,  and 
paid  him  every  imaginable  attention  and  respect. 


134  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Proclamation  of  the  law  of  public  worship.  —  Conversation  on  the  subject.  — 
The  countersign.  —  The  Plenipotentiaries  of  the  Concordat.  —  Abbe  Ber- 
nier  and  Cardinal  Caprara.  —  The  red  hat  and  the  red  cap.  —  Costume  of 
the  First  Consul  and  his  colleagues.  — The  first  Te  Deum  chanted  at  Notre 
Dame.  — Varied  feelings  of  the  spectators.  —  The  Republican  calendar.  — 
The  beard  and  the  shirt. — General  Abda.llah-M.enou.  —  His  courage  in. 
risking  his  head  with  the  Jacobins.  — His  flag.  — His  romantic  death.  — 
Institution  of  the  order  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  —  The  First  Consul  at 
Ivry.  —  The  inscriptions  of  1802  and  1814.  —  The  Mayor  of  Ivry  and  the 
Mayor  of  Evreux.  —  Simplicity  of  a  high  functionary.  —  The  cinq-z-en- 
fants.  —  Arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Rouen.  —  M.  Beugnot  and  Arch- 
bishop Cambaceres.  — The  Mayor  of  Rouen  in  the  First  Consul's  carriage. 

—  Generals  Soult  and  Moncey.  — The  First  Consul  has  a  corporal  to  take 
breakfast  with  him. — The  First  Consul  at  Havre  and  Honfleur. — De- 
parture from  Havre  for  Fecamp.  —  Arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Dieppe. 

—  Return  to  Saint-Cloud. 

THE  day  on  which  the  First  Consul  promulgated  the 
law  of  public  worship,  he  rose  early,  and  entered  the 
dressing-room  to  make  his  toilet.  While  he  was  dressing 
I  saw  Joseph  Bonaparte  enter  his  room  with  Cambaceres. 

"  Well,"  said  the  First  Consul  to  the  latter,  "  we  are 
going  to  mass.  What  do  they  think  of  that  in  Paris  ?  " 

"Many  persons,"  replied  M.  Cambaceres,  "will  go  to 
the  representation  with  the  intention  of  hissing  the  piece, 
if  they  do  not  find  it  amusing." 

"  If  any  one  thinks  of  hissing,  I  will  have  him  put  out- 
of-doors  by  the  grenadiers  of  the  Consular  Guard." 

"  But  if  the  grenadiers  begin  to  hiss  like  the  others  ?  " 

"  I  have   no   fear  of  that.      My  old  soldiers  will   go 


THE  CONCORDAT.  135 

to  Notre  Dame  exactly  as  they  went  to  the  mosque  at 
Cairo.  They  will  watch  me ;  and  seeing  their  general  re- 
main quiet  and  reverent,  they  will  do  as  he  does,  saying 
to  themselves,  "  That  is  the  countersign  I  " 

"I  am  afraid,"  said  Joseph  Bonaparte,  "that  the 
general  officers  will  not  be  so  accommodating.  I  have  just 
left  Augereau,  who  was  vomiting  fire  and  fury  against 
what  he  calls  your  capricious  proclamations.  He,  and  a 
few  others,  will  not  be  easy  to  bring  back  into  the  pale  of 
our  holy  mother,  the  church." 

"  Bah !  that  is  like  Augereau.  He  is  a  bawler,  who 
makes  a  great  noise ;  and  yet  if  he  has  a  little  imbecile 
cousin,  he  puts  him  in  the  priests'  college  for  me  to  make 
a  chaplain  of  him. 

"  That  reminds  me,"  continued  the  First  Consul,  ad- 
dressing his  colleague,  "  when  is  your  brother  going  to 
take  possession  of  his  see  of  Rouen  ?  Do  you  know  it  has 
the  finest  archiepiscopal  palace  in  France?  He  will  be 
cardinal  before  a  year  has  passed;  that  matter  is  already 
arranged." 

The  second  consul  bowed.  From  that  moment  his 
manner  towards  the  First  Consul  was  rather  that  of  a 
courtier  than  an  equal. 

The  plenipotentiaries  who  had  been  appointed  to  exam- 
ine and  sign  the  Concordat  were  Joseph  Bonaparte,  Crdtet, 
and  the  Abbe  Bernier.  This  latter,  whom  I  saw  some- 
times at  the  Tuileries,  had  been  a  chief  of  the  Chouans,1 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  all  that  occurred.  The 
First  Consul,  in  this  same  conversation,  the  opening  of 
which  I  have  just  related,  discussed  with  his  two  com- 

1  The  Chouans  were  Koyalists  iu  insurrection  in  Brittany.  —  TRANS. 


136  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

panions  the  subject  of  the  conferences  on  the  Concordat. 
"  The  Abbe  Bernier,"  said  the  First  Consul,  "  inspired  fear 
in  the  Italian  prelates  by  the  vehemence  of  his  logic.  It 
might  have  been  said  that  he  imagined  himself  living  over 
again  the  days  in  which  he  led  the  Vende'ens  to  the  charge 
against  the  blues.  Nothing  could  be  more  striking  than 
the  contrast  of  his  rude  and  quarrelsome  manner  with  the 
polished  bearing  and  honeyed  tones  of  the  prelates.  Car- 
dinal Caprara  came  to  me  two  days  ago,  with  a  shocked 
air,  to  ask  if  it  is  true  that,  during  the  war  of  the  Vendee, 
the  Abbe  Bernier  made  an  altar  on  which  to  celebrate 
mass  out  of  the  corpses  of  the  Republicans.  I  replied 
that  I  knew  nothing  of  it,  but  that  it  was  possible.  *  Gen- 
eral, First  Consul,'  cried  the  frightened  cardinal,  'it  is 
not  a  red  hat,  but  a  red  cap,  which  that  man  should 
have! ' 

"  I  am  much  afraid,"  continued  the  First  Consul,  "  that 
that  kind  of  cap  would  prevent  the  Abbe  Bernier  from 
getting  the  red  hat." 

These  gentlemen  left  the  First  Consul  when  his  toilet 
was  finished,  and  went  to  make  their  own.  The  First 
Consul  wore  on  that  day  the  costume  of  the  consuls,  which 
consisted  of  a  scarlet  coat  without  facings,  and  with  a  broad 
embroidery  of  palms,  in  gold,  on  all  the  seams.  His  sword, 
which  he  had  worn  in  Egypt,  hung  at  his  side  from  a  belt, 
which,  though  not  very  wide,  was  of  beautiful  workman- 
ship, and  richly  embroidered.  He  wore  his  black  stock, 
in  preference  to  a  lace  cravat,  and  like  his  colleagues,  wore 
knee-breeches  and  shoes ;  a  French  hat,  with  floating  plumes 
of  the  three  colors,  completed  this  rich  costume. 

The  celebration  of  this  sacrament  at  Notre  Dame  was  a 


THE  FIH8T  TE  DEUM  AT  NOTRE  DAME.  137 

novel  sight  to  the  Parisians,  and  many  attended  as  if  it  were 
a  theatrical  representation.  Many,  also,  especially  amongst 
the  military,  found  it  rather  a  matter  of  raillery  than  of 
edification ;  and  those  who,  during  the  Revolution,  had  con- 
tributed all  their  strength  to  the  overthrow  of  the  worship 
which  the  First  Consul  had  just  re-established,  could  with 
difficulty  conceal  their  indignation  and  their  chagrin. 

The  common  people  saw  in  the  Te  Deum  which  was 
sung  that  day  for  peace  and  the  Concordat,  only  an  addi- 
tional gratification  of  their  curiosity ;  but  among  the  middle 
classes  there  was  a  large  number  of  pious  persons,  who  had 
deeply  regretted  the  suppression  of  the  forms  of  devotion  in 
which  they  had  been  reared,  and  who  were  very  happy  in 
returning  to  the  old  worship.  And,  indeed,  there  was  then 
no  manifestation  of  superstition  or  of  bigotry  sufficient 
to  alarm  the  enemies  of  intolerance. 

The  clergy  were  exceedingly  careful  not  to  appear  too 
exacting ;  they  demanded  little,  condemned  no  one ;  and 
the  representative  of  the  Holy  Father,  the  cardinal  legate, 
pleased  all,  except  perhaps  a  few  dissatisfied  old  priests,  by 
his  indulgence,  the  worldly  grace  of  his  manners,  and  the 
freedom  of  his  conduct.  This  prelate  was  entirely  in  accord 
with  the  First  Consul,  and  he  took  great  pleasure  in  con- 
versing with  him. 

It  is  also  certain,  that  apart  from  all  religious  sentiment, 
the  fidelity  of  the  people  to  their  ancient  customs  made 
them  return  with  pleasure  to  the  repose  and  celebration 
of  Sunday.  The  Republican  calendar  was  doubtless  wisely 
computed ;  but  every  one  is  at  first  sight  struck  with  the 
ridiculousness  of  replacing  the  legend  of  the  saints  of  the 
old  calendar  with  the  days  of  the  ass,  the  hog,  the  turnip, 


138  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  onion,  etc.  Besides,  if  it  was  skillfully  computed,  it 
was  by  no  means  conveniently  divided.  I  recall  on  this 
subject  the  remark  of  a  man  of  much  wit,  and  who,  notwith- 
standing the  disapprobation  which  his  remark  implied, 
nevertheless  desired  the  establishment  of  the  Republican 
system,  everywhere  except  in  the  almanac.  When  the 
decree  of  the  Convention  which  ordered  the  adoption  of  the 
Republican  calendar  was  published,  he  remarked :  "  They 
have  done  finely ;  but  they  have  to  fight  two  enemies 
who  never  yield,  the  beard,  and  the  white  shirt."1 

The  truth  is,  the  interval  from  one  decadi  to  another 
was  too  long  for  the  working-classes,  and  for  all  those  who 
were  constantly  occupied.  I  do  not  know  whether  it 
was  the  effect  of  a  deep-rooted  habit,  but  people  accustomed 
to  working  six  days  in  succession,  and  resting  on  the 
seventh,  found  nine  days  of  consecutive  labor  too  long, 
and  consequently  the  suppression  of  the  decadi  was  uni- 
versally approved.  The  decree  which  ordered  the  publi- 
cation of  marriage  bans  on  Sunday  was  not  so  popular,  for 
some  persons  were  afraid  of  finding  in  this  the  revival  of 
the  former  dominance  of  the  clergy  over  the  civil  authorities. 

A  few  days  after  the  solemn  re-establishment  of  the 
catholic  worship,  there  arrived  at  the  Tuileries  a  general 
officer,  who  would  perhaps  have  preferred  the  establishment 
of  Mahomet,  and  the  change  of  Notre  Dame  into  a  mosque. 
He  was  the  last  general-in-chief  of  the  army  of  Egypt,  and 
was  said  to  have  turned  Mussulman  at  Cairo,  ex-Baron  de 
Menou.2  In  spite  of  the  defeat  by  the  English  which  he 

1  That  is  to  say,  the  barber  and  tho  washerwoman,  for  whom  ten  days 
was  too  long  an  interval.  —  TRANS. 

2  Jaques  Francois,  Baroii  de  Menou,  born  in  Touraiue,  1750,  was  of  high 


GENERAL   MENOU.  139 

had  recently  undergone  in  Egypt,  General  Abdallah-Menou 
was  well  received  by  the  First  Consul,  who  appointed 
him  soon  after  governor-general  of  Piedmont.  General 
Menou  was  of  tried  courage,  and  had  given  proof  of  it 
elsewhere,  as  well  as  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  amid  the 
most  trying  circumstances. 

After  the  10th  of  August,1  although  belonging  to  the 
Republican  party,  he  had  accompanied  Louis  Sixteenth  to 
the  Assembly,  and  had  been  denounced  as  a  Royalist  by 
the  Jacobins.  In  1795  the  Faubourg  Saint  Antoine  hav- 
ing risen  en  masse,  and  advanced  against  the  Convention, 
General  Menou  had  surrounded  and  disarmed  the  sedi- 
tious citizens ;  but  he  had  refused  to  obey  the  atrocious 
orders  of  the  commissioners  of  the  Convention,  who  decreed 
that  the  entire  faubourg  should  be  burned,  in  order  to 
punish  the  inhabitants  for  their  continued  insurrections. 
Some  time  afterwards,  having  again  refused  to  obey  the 
order  these  commissioners  of  the  Convention  gave,  to  mow 
down  with  grape-shot  the  insurrectionists  of  Paris,  he  had 
been  summoned  before  a  commission,  which  would  not 
have  failed  to  send  him  to  the  guillotine,  if  General  Bo- 
naparte, who  had  succeeded  him  in  the  command  of  the 
army  of  the  interior,  had  not  used  all  his  influence  to  save 
his  life.  Such  repeated  acts  of  courage  and  generosity 

rank  in  the  army  prior  to  1789.  He  sat  with  the  Tiers  l£tat  in  the  States-Gen- 
eral, notwithstanding  his  noble  birth.  '  Served  in  La  Vende'e  and  in  Egypt. 
Succeeded  as  coinmander-in-chief  on  the  death  of  Kleber.  His  subsequent 
career  is  above  stated.  —  TRANS. 

1  The  10th  of  August,  1792,  when  the  mob  sacked  the  Tuileries,  mas- 
sacred the  Swiss  Body  Guard,  placed  the  red  cap  on  the  king's  head,  and 
carried  him  to  the  Convention,  which  sent  him  to  prison.  The  fidelity  of  the 
Swiss  Guard  is  nobly  commemorated  by  the  lion  hewn  in  the  solid  rock 
by  Thorwaldsen  at  Lucerne. — TRANS. 


140  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

are  enough,  and  more  than  enough,  to  cause  us  to  par- 
don in  this  brave  officer,  the  very  natural  pride  with 
which  he  boasted  of  having  armed  the  National  Guards, 
and  having  caused  the  tricolor  to  be  substituted  for  the 
white  flag.  The  tricolor  he  called  my  flag.  From  the 
government  of  Piedmont  he  passed  to  that  of  Venice ;  and 
died  in  1810  for  love  of  an  actress,  whom  he  had  followed 
from  Venice  to  Reggio,  in  spite  of  his  sixty  years. 

The  institution  of  the  order  of  the  Legion  of  Honor 
preceded  by  a  few  days  the  proclamation  of  the  Consulate 
for  life,  which  proclamation  was  the  occasion  of  a  fete, 
celebrated  on  the  15th  of  August.  This  was  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  birth  of  the  First  Consul,  and  the  opportunity 
was  used  in  order  to  make  for  the  first  time  this  anniversary 
a  festival.  On  that  day  the  First  Consul  was  thirty-three 
years  old. 

In  the  month  of  October  following  I  went  with  the 
First  Consul  on  his  journey  into  Normandy,  where  we 
stopped  at  Ivry,  and  the  First  Consul  visited  the  battle- 
field. He  said,  on  arriving  there,  "  Honor  to  the  memory 
of  the  best  Frenchman  who  ever  sat  upon  the  throne  of 
France,"  and  ordered  the  restoration  of  the  column,  which 
had  been  formerly  erected,  in  memory  of  the  victory 
achieved  by  Henry  the  Fourth.  The  reader  will  perhaps 
desire  to  read  here  the  inscriptions,  which  were  engraved 
by  his  order,  on  the  four  faces  of  the  pyramid. 

First  Inscription. 

NAPOLEON    BONAPARTE,    FIRST   CONSUL,    TO   THE    MEMORY 
OF    HENRY   THE   FOURTH,   VICTORIOUS    OVER   THE 
ENEMIES    OF    THE    STATE,    ON   THE    FIELD 
OF    IVRY,    14TH    MARCH,    1890. 


THE  TWO  MAYORS.  141 

Second  Inscription, 

GREAT  MEN  LOVE  THE  GLOKY  OF  THOSE  WHO  RESEMBLE  THEM. 

Third  Inscription. 

THE    7TH    BRUMAIRE,   YEAR    XI,    OF    THE    FRENCH    REPUBLIC, 

NAPOLEON    BONAPARTE,    FIRST    CONSUL, 

HAVING    VISITED    THIS    FIELD,    ORDERED   THE    REBUILDING 

OF   THE    MONUMENT    DESTINED    TO    PERPETUATE    THE    MEMORY    OF 

HENRY   IV.,    AND    THE    VICTORY    OF   IVRY. 

Fourth  Inscription. 

THE    WOES    EXPERIENCED    BY   FRANCE,    AT    THE    EPOCH 

OF    THE    BATTLE    OF    IVRY,    WERE    THE    RESULT 

OF    THE    APPEAL    MADE    BY    THE    OPPOSING    PARTIES    IN    FRANCE    TO 
SPAIN   AND    ENGLAND.       EVERY   FAMILY,    EVERY   PARTY, 

WHICH    CALLS   IN   FOREIGN   POWERS    TO   ITS   AID, 

HAS    MERITED   AND   WILL    MERIT,   TO    THE    MOST    DISTANT    POSTERITY, 
THE    MALEDICTION   OF    THE    FRENCH   PEOPLE. 

All  these  inscriptions  have  since  been  effaced,  and  re- 
placed by  this,  "  On  this  spot  Henry  the  Fourth  stood  the 
day  of  the  battle  of  Ivry,  14th  March,  1590." 

Monsieur  Ledier,  Mayor  of  Ivry,  accompanied  the  First 
Consul  on  this  excursion ;  and  the  First  Consul  held  a  long 
conversation  with  him,  in  which  he  appeared  to  be  agree- 
ably impressed.  He  did  not  form  so  good  an  opinion  of 
the  Mayor  of  Evreux,  and  interrupted  him  abruptly,  in  the 
midst  of  a  complimentary  address  which  this  worthy  magis- 
trate \yas  trying  to  make  him,  by  asking  if  he  knew  his 
colleague,  the  Mayor  of  Ivry.  "  No,  general,"  replied  the 
mayor.  "  Well,  so  much  the  worse  for  you ;  I  trust  you 
will  make  his  acquaintance." 

It  was  also  at  Evreux  that  an  official  of  high  rank 


142  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

amused  Madame  Bonaparte  and  her  suite,  by  a  naivete 
which  the  First  Consul  alone  did  not  find  diverting,  be- 
cause he  did  not  like  such  simplicity  displayed  by  an  of- 
ficial. Monsieur  de  Ch —  -  did  the  honors  of  the  country 
town  to  the  wife  of  the  First  Consul,  and  this,  in  spite 
of  his  age,  with  much  zeal  and  activity ;  and  Madame 
Bonaparte,  among  other  questions  which  her  usual  kind- 
ness and  grace  dictated  to  her,  asked  him  if  he  was  mar- 
ried, and  if  he  had  a  family.  "  Indeed,  Madame,  I  should 
think  so,"  replied  Monsieur  de  Ch —  -  with  a  smile  and 
a  bow,  "fai  cinq-z-enfants." -  — "  OA,  mon  Dieu"  cried 
Madame  Bonaparte,  "what  a  regiment!  That  is  extraor- 
dinary; what,  sir,  seize  enfants?"  —"Yes,  Madame,  cinq-z- 
enfants,  cinq-z-enfants"  repeated  the  official,  who  did  not 
see  anything  very  marvelous  in  it,  and  who  wondered  at 
the  astonishment  shown  by  Madame  Bonaparte.  At  last 
some  one  explained  to  her  the  mistake  which  la  liaison 
dangereuse  of  M.  de  Ch —  -  had  caused  her  to  make,  and 
added  with  comic  seriousness,  "Deign,  Madame,  to  excuse 
M.  de  Ch .  The  Revolution  has  interrupted  the  prose- 
cution of  his  studies."  He  was  more  than  sixty  years  of 
age. 

From  Evreux  we  set  out  for  Rouen,  where  we  arrived 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Chaptal,  Minister  of  the 
Interior,  Beugnot,  Prefect  of  the  Department,  and  Cam- 
baceres,  Archbishop  of  Rouen,  came  to  meet  the  First  Con- 
sul at  some  distance  from  the  city.  The  Mayor  Fontenay 
waited  at  the  gates,  and  presented  the  keys.  The  First 
Consul  held  them  some  time  in  his  hands,  and  then  re- 
turned them  to  the  mayor,  saying  to  him  loud  enough 
to  be  heard  by  the  crowd  which  surrounded  the  carriage, 


AT  EOUEN.  143 

"  Citizens,  I  cannot  trust  the  keys  of  the  city  to  any  one 
better  than  the  worthy  magistrate  who  so  worthily  enjoys 
my  confidence  and  your  own ;  "  and  made  Fontenay  enter 
his  carriage,  saying  he  wished  to  honor  Rouen  in  the  per- 
son of  its  mayor. 

Madame  Bonaparte  rode  in  the  carriage  with  her  hus- 
band ;  General  Moncey,1  Inspector-general  of  the  Constabu- 
lary, on  horseback  on  the  right ;  in  the  second  carriage  was 
General  Soult2  and  his  aides-de-camp  ;  in  the  third  carriage, 
General  Bessieres  3  and  M.  de  Lugay ;  in  the  fourth,  Gen- 
eral Lauriston ;  then  came  the  carriages  of  the  personal 
attendants,  Hambard,  Hebert,  and  I  being  in  the  first. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  an  idea  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Rouen  on  the  arrival  of  the  First  Consul. 
The  market-porters  and  the  boatmen  in  grand  costume 
awaited  us  outside  the  city ;  and  when  the  carriage  which 


1  Adrian  Moncey,  born  at  Besan9on,  1754,  entered  the  army  at  fifteen 
years  of  age.    In  1793  he  was  as  yet  only  a  captain.    As  general  of  division, 
served  in  Spain  and  Italy,  1795  and  1796.    In  1804:  made  m&rshal,  and  later 
Duke  of  Conegliano.    He  refused,  after  Waterloo,  to  preside  in  the  court- 
martial  that  tried  Marshal  Ney,  and  was  imprisoned.     Governor  of  the  In- 
valides  on  the  return  of  the  ashes  of  Napoleon,  1840 ;  died  1842. 

2  Nicolas  Soult,  born  at  St.  Amand  (Tarn),  1769,  served  in  the  campaigns 
1794-1799  in  the  army  of  the  Rhine.    Was  with  Masse'na  in  Genoa,  1800.    Made 
marshal  1804.     Served  at  Austerlitz  1805,  and  in  Spain  1808  to  1814.    Was 
minister  of  war  to  Louis  XVIII.  in  1814,  but  resigned  to  join  Napoleon  on 
his  return  from  Elba,    and   was  chief  of  staff  at  Waterloo.     Peer  under 
Charles  X.,  and  minister  of  war  and  premier  under  Louis  Philippe.     Died 
November,  1851.     Was  created  Duke  of  Dalmatia  by  Napoleon. 

3  John  Baptist  Bessieres,  born  in  1768  at  Prayssac  (Lot),  served  under 
Bonaparte  in  Italy,  1796,  followed  him  to  Egypt  as  brigadier-general,  general 
of  division  under  the  Consulate,  marshal  1804,  and  later  Duke  of  Istria. 
Commanded  the  Imperial  Guard  at  Austerlitz,  Je'na,  Eylau,  and  Wagram. 
Commanded  an  army  corps  in  Spain,  1811,  and  the  cavalry  of  the  guard  in 
Russia  in  1813.    Was  killed  in  a  skirmish  just  before  the  battle  of  Lutzen, 
May,  1813. 


144  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

held  the  two  august  personages  was  in  sight,  these  brave 
men  placed  themselves  in  line,  two  and  two,  and  preceded 
thus  the  carriage  to  the  hotel  of  the  prefecture,  where  the 
First  Consul  alighted. 

The  prefect  and  the  mayor  of  Rouen,  the  archbishop, 
and  the  general  commanding  the  division  dined  with  the 
First  Consul,  who  showed  a  most  agreeable  animation  dur- 
ing the  repast,  and  with  much  solicitude  asked  information 
as  to  the  condition  of  manufactures,  new  discoveries  in  the 
art  of  manufacturing,  in  fact,  as  to  everything  relating  to 
the  prosperity  of  this  city,  which  was  essentially  industrial. 

In  the  evening,  and  almost  the  whole  night,  an  immense 
crowd  surrounded  the  hotel,  and  filled  the  gardens  of  the 
prefecture,  which  were  illuminated  and  ornamented  with 
allegorical  transparencies  in  praise  of  the  First  Consul; 
and  each  time  he  showed  himself  on  the  terrace  of  the 
garden  the  air  resounded  with  applause  and  acclamations 
which  seemed  most  gratifying  to  him. 

The  next  morning,  after  having  made  on  horseback  the 
tour  of  the  city,  and  visited  the  grand  sites  by  which  it  is 
surrounded,  the  First  Consul  heard  mass,  which  was  cele- 
brated at  eleven  o'clock  by  the  archbishop  in  the  chapel  of 
the  prefecture.  An  hour  after  he  had  to  receive  the  gen- 
eral council  of  the  department,  the  council  of  the  prefec- 
ture, the  municipal  council,  the  clergy  of  Rouen,  and  the 
courts  of  justice,  and  was  obliged  to  listen  to  a  half-dozen 
discourses,  all  expressed  in  nearly  the  same  terms,  and  to 
which  he  replied  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  the  orators 
the  highest  opinion  of  their  own  merit.  All  these  bodies, 
on  leaving  the  First  Consul,  were  presented  to  Madame 
Bonaparte,  who  received  them  with  her  accustomed  grace, 


PTIEY, 


AT  ROUEN.  -145 

In  the  evening  Madame  Bonaparte  held  a  reception  for 
the  wives  of  the  officials,  at  which  the  First  Consul  was 
present,  of  which  fact  some  availed  themselves  to  present 
to  him  several  emigres,  who  had  recently  returned  under 
the  act  of  amnesty,  and  whom  he  received  graciously. 

After  which  followed  crowds,  illuminations,  acclama- 
tions, all  similar  to  those  of  the  evening  before.  Every 
one  wore  an  air  of  rejoicing  which  delighted  me,  and 
contrasted  strangely,  I  thought,  with  the  dreadful  wooden 
houses,  narrow,  filthy  streets,  and  Gothic  buildings  which 
then  distinguished  the  town  of  Rouen. 

Monday,  Nov.  1,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
First  Consul  mounted  his  horse,  and,  escorted  by  a  detach- 
ment of  the  young  men  of  the  city,  forming  a  volunteer 
guard,  passed,  the  bridge  of  boats,  and  reached  the  Fau- 
bourg Saint-Sever.  On  his  return  from  this  excursion,  we 
found  the  populace  awaiting  him  at  the  head  of  the  bridge, 
whence  they  escorted  him  to  the  hotel  of  the  prefecture, 
manifesting  the  liveliest  joy. 

After  breakfast,  there  was  a  high  mass  by  the  arch- 
bishop, the  occasion  being  the  fete  of  All  Saints ;  then 
came  the  learned  societies,  the  chiefs  of  administration,  and 
justices  of  the  peace,  with  their  speeches,  one  of  which 
contained  a  remarkable  sentence,  in  which  these  good 
magistrates,  in  their  enthusiasm,  asked  the  First  Consul's 
permission  to  surname  him  the  great  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Europe.  As  they  left  the  Consul's  apartment  I  noticed 
their  spokesman ;  he  had  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  was  repeat- 
ing with  pride  the  reply  he  had  just  received. 

I  regret  that  I  do  not  remember  his  name,  but  I  was 
told  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  men  in 


146  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Rouen.  His  countenance  inspired  confidence,  and  bore  an 
expression  of  frankness,  which  prepossessed  me  in  his  favor. 

In  the  evening  the  First  Consul  went  to  the  theater, 
which  was  packed  to  the  ceiling,  and  offered  a  charming 
sight.  The  municipal  authorities  had  a  delightful  fete  pre- 
pared, which  the  First  Consul  found  much  to  his  taste,  and 
upon  which  he  complimented  the  prefect  and  the  mayor  on 
several  different  occasions.  After  witnessing  the  opening 
of  the  ball,  he  made  two  or  three  turns  in  the  hall,  and 
retired,  escorted  by  the  staff  of  the  National  Guard. 

On  Tuesday  much  of  the  day  was  spent  by  the  First 
Consul  in  visiting  the  workshops  of  the  numerous  factories 
of  the  city,  accompanied  by  the  minister  of  the  interior,  the 
prefect,  the  mayor,  the  general  commanding  the  division, 
the  inspector-general  of  police,  and  the  staff  of  the  Consu- 
lar Guard.  In  a  factory  of  the  Faubourg  SaintrSever,  the 
minister  of  the  interior  presented  to  him  the  dean  of  the 
workmen,  noted  as  having  woven  the  first  piece  of  vel- 
vet in  France ;  and  the  First  Consul,  after  complimenting 
this  honorable  old  man,  granted  him  a  pension.  Other 
rewards  and  encouragements  were  likewise  distributed  to 
several  parties  whose  useful  inventions  commended  them 
to  public  gratitude. 

Wednesday  morning  early  we  left  for  Elbeuf,  where  we 
arrived  at  ten  o'clock,  preceded  by  threescore  young  men 
of  the  most  distinguished  families  of  the  city,  who,  .fol- 
lowing the  example  of  those  of  Rouen,  aspired  to  the  honor 
of  forming  the  guard  of  the  First  Consul. 

The  country  around  us  was  covered  with  an  innu- 
merable multitude,  gathered  from  all  the  surrounding  com- 
munes. The  First  Consul  alighted  at  Elbeuf,  at  the  house 


AT  ELBEUF.  147 

of  the  mayor,  where  he  took  breakfast,  and  then  visited 
the  town  in  detail,  obtaining  information  everywhere  ;  and 
knowing  that  one  of  the  first  wishes  of  the  citizens  was  the 
construction  of  a  road  from  Elbeuf  to  a  small  neighboring 
town  called  Romilly,  he  gave  orders  to  the  minister  of  the 
interior  to  begin  work  upon  it  immediately. 

At  Elbeuf,  as  at  Rouen,  the  First  Consul  was  over- 
whelmed with  homage  and  benedictions ;  and  we  returned 
from  this  last  town  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

The  merchants  of  Rouen  had  prepared  a  fete  in  the  hall 
of  the  Stock  Exchange,  which  the  First  Consul  and  his 
family  attended  after  dinner.  He  remained  a  long  time 
on  the  ground  floor  of  this  building,  where  there  were  dis- 
played magnificent  specimens  from  the  industries  of  this 
Department.  He  examined  everything,  and  made  Madame 
Bonaparte  do  the  same  ;  and  she  also  purchased  several 
pieces  of  cloth. 

The  First  Consul  then  ascended  to  the  first  floor, 
where,  in  the  grand  saloon,  were  gathered  about  a  hundred 
ladies,  married  and  single,  and  almost  all  pretty,  the  wives 
and  daughters  of  the  principal  merchants  of  Rouen,  who 
were  waiting  to  compliment  him.  He  seated  himself  in  this 
charming  circle,  and  remained  there  perhaps  a  quarter  of  an 
hour ;  then  passed  into  another  room,  where  awaited  him 
the  representation  of  a  little  proverb,  containing  couplets 
expressing,  as  may  be  imagined,  the  attachment  and  grati- 
tude of  the  inhabitants  of  Rouen.  This  play  was  followed 
by  a  ball. 

Thursday  evening  the  First  Consul  announced  that  he 
would  leave  for  Havre  the  next  morning  at  daybreak ;  and 
exactly  at  five  o'clock  I  was  awakened  by  Hebert,  who 


148  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

said  that  at  six  o'clock  we  would  set  out.  I  awoke  feeling 
badly,  was  sick  the  whole  day,  and  would  have  given  much 
to  have  slept  a  few  hours  longer ;  but  we  were  compelled  to 
begin  our  journey.  Before  entering  his  carriage,  the  First 
Consul  made  a  present  to  Monseigneur,  the  archbishop, 
of  a  snuff-box  with  his  portrait,  and  also  gave  one  to  the 
mayor,  on  which  was  the  inscription,  Peuple  Franfais. 

We  stopped  at  Caudebec  for  breakfast.  The  mayor  of 
this  town  presented  to  the  First  Consul  a  corporal  who  had 
made  the  campaign  of  Italy  (his  name  was,  I  think,  Rous- 
sel),  and  who  had  received  a  sword  of  honor  as  a  reward 
for  his  brave  conduct  at  Marengo.  He  was  at  Caudebec 
on  a  half-year's  furlough,  and  asked  the  First  Consul's 
permission  to  be  a  sentinel  at  the  door  of  the  apartment 
of  the  august  travelers,  which  was  granted ;  and  after  the 
First  Consul  and  Madame  Bonaparte  were  seated  at  the 
table,  Roussel  was  sent  for,  and  invited  to  breakfast  with 
his  former  general.  At  Havre  and  at  Dieppe  the  First 
Consul  invited  thus  to  his  table  all  the  soldiers  or  sailors 
who  had  received  guns,  sabers,  or  boarding-axes  of  honor. 
The  First  Consul  stopped  an  hour  at  Bolbec,  showing  much 
attention  and  interest  in  examining  the  products  of  the  in- 
dustries of  the  district,  complimenting  the  guards  of  honor 
who  passed  before  him  on  their  fine  appearance,  thanking 
the  clergy  for  the  prayers  in  his  behalf  which  they  ad- 
dressed to  Heaven,  and  leaving  for  the  poor,  either  in  their 
own  hands,  or  in  the  hands  of  the  mayor,  souvenirs  of  his 
stay.  On  the  arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Havre,  the  city 
was  illuminated;  and  the  First  Consul  and  his  numerous 
cortege  passed  between  two  rows  of  illuminations  and  col- 
umns of  fire  of  all  kinds.  The  vessels  in  the  port  appeared 


AT  HAVRE.  149 

like  a  forest  on  fire  ;  being  covered  with  colored  lamps  to 
the  very  top  of  their  masts.  The  First  Consul  received, 
the  day  of  his  arrival  at  Havre,  only  a  part  of  the  author- 
ities of  the  city,  and  soon  after  retired,  saying  that  he 
was  fatigued ;  but  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
next  day  he  was  on  horseback,  and  until  two  o'clock  he 
rode  along  the  seacoast  and  low  hills  of  Ingouville  for 
more  than  a  league,  and  the  banks  of  the  Seine  as  far  as 
the  cliffs  of  Hoc.  He  also  made  a  tour  outside  of  the  cita- 
del. About  three  o'clock  the  First  Consul  began  to  receive 
the  authorities.  He  conversed  with  them  in  great  detail 
upon  the  work  that  had  been  done  at  this  place  in  order 
that  their  port,  which  he  always  called  the  port  of  Paris, 
might  reach  the  highest  degree  of  prosperity,  and  did  the 
sub-prefect,  the  mayor,  the  two  presidents  of  -the  tribunals, 
the  commandant  of  the  place,  and  the  chief  of  the  tenth 
de mi-brigade  of  light  infantry  the  honor  of  inviting  them  to 
his  table. 

In  the  evening  the  First  Consul  went  to  the  theater, 
where  they  played  a  piece  composed  for  the  occasion, 
about  as  admirable  as  such  pieces  usually  are,  but  on  which 
the  First  Consul  and  Madame  Bonaparte  especially  compli- 
mented the  authors.  The  illuminations  were  more  brilliant 
even  than  on  the  evening  before  ;  and  I  remember  especially 
that  the  largest  number  of  transparencies  bore  the  inscrip- 
tion, 18th  Brumaire,  year  VIIL l 

Sunday,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  having 
visited  the  Marine  Arsenal  and  all  the  docks,  the  weather 
being  very  fine,  the  First  Consul  embarked  in  a  little  barge, 
and  remained  in  the  roadstead  for  several  hours,  escorted 

1  The  day  (Nov.  9,  1799)  011  which  he  was  made  First  Consul.  —TRANS. 


150  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

by  a  large  number  of  barges  rilled  with  men  and  elegantly 
dressed  women,  and  musicians  playing  the  favorite  airs  of 
the  First  Consul.  Then  a  few  hours  were  again  passed  in 
the  reception  of  merchants,  the  First  Consul  assuring  them 
that  he  had  taken  the  greatest  pleasure  in  conferring  with 
them  in  regard  to  the  commerce  of  Havre  with  the  colonies. 
In  the  evening,  there  was  a  fete  prepared  by  the  merchants, 
at  which  the  First  Consul  remained  for  half  an  hour ;  and 
on  Monday,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  embarked  on 
a  lugger  for  Honfleur.  At  the  time  of  his  departure  the 
weather  was  a  little  threatening,  and  the  First  Consul  was 
advised  not  to  embark.  Madame  Bonaparte,  whose  ears 
this  rumor  reached,  ran  after  her  husband,  begging  him 
not  to  set  out ;  but  he  embraced  her,  laughing,  calling  her 
a  coward,  and  entered  the  vessel  which  was  awaiting  him. 
He  had  hardly  embarked  when  the  wind  suddenly  lulled, 
and  the  weather  became  very  fine.  On  his  return  to  Havre, 
the  First  Consul  held  a  review  on  the  Place  de  la  Citadelle, 
and  visited  the  artillery  barracks,  after  which  he  received, 
until  the  evening,  a  large  number  of  public  dignitaries  and 
merchants ;  and  the  next  day,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, we  set  out  for  Dieppe. 

When  we  arrived  at  Fecamp,  the  town  presented  an 
extremely  singular  spectacle.  All  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  and  of  the  adjoining  towns  and  villages,  followed 
the  clergy,  chanting  a  Te  Deum  for  the  anniversary  of  the 
18th  Brumaire ;  and  these  countless  voices  rising  to  heaven 
for  him  affected  the  First  Consul  profoundly.  He  repeated 
several  times  during  breakfast  that  he  had  felt  more  emotion 
on  hearing  these  chants  under  the  dome  of  heaven  than  he 
had  ever  felt  while  listening  to  the  most  brilliant  music. 


AT  DIEPPE.  151 

We  arrived  at  Dieppe  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
The  First  Consul  retired,  only  after  having  received  all 
their  felicitations,  which  were  certainly  very  sincere  there, 
as  throughout  all  France  at  that  time.  The  next  day,  at 
eight  o'clock,  the  First  Consul  repaired  to  the  harbor,  where 
he  remained  a  long  while  watching  the  return  of  the  fisher- 
men, and  afterwards  visited  the  faubourg  of  Pollet,  and  the 
work  on  the  docks,  which  was  then  just  beginning.  He 
admitted  to  his  table  the  sub-prefect,  the  mayor,  and  three 
sailors  of  Dieppe  who  had  been  given  boarding-axes  of 
honor  for  distinguishing  themselves  in  the  combat  off 
Boulogne.  He  ordered  the  construction  of  a  breakwater 
in  the  inner  port,  and  the  continuation  of  a  canal  for  navi- 
gation, which  was  to  be  extended  as  far  as  Paris,  and  of 
which,  until  this  present  time,1  only  a  few  fathoms  have 
been  made.  From  Dieppe  we  went  to  Gisors  and  to 
Beauvais ;  and  finally  the  First  Consul  and  his  wife 
returned  to  Saint-Cloud,  after  an  absence  of  two  weeks, 
during  which  workmen  had  been  busily  employed  in  re- 
storing the  ancient  royal  residence,  which  the  First  Consul 
had  decided  to  accept,  as  I  have  before  stated. 
*  In  1830.  —  TRANS. 


152  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Influence  of  the  tour  of  Normandy  upon  the  mind  of  the  First  Consul.  —  The 
genesis  of  the  Empire.  —  Memoirs  and  history.  —  First  ladies  and  officers 
of  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Mesdames  de  Re'musat,  de  Tallouet,  de  Lucay, 
de  Lauriston.  —  Mademoiselles  d'Alberg  and  de  Lucay.  —  Prudence  at 
Court.  —  Messieurs  de  Remusat,  de  Cramayel,  de  Lupay,  Didelot.  —  The 
palace  first  refused,  then  accepted.  —  Gewgaws.  —  The  servants  of  Marie 
Antoinette  better  treated  under  the  Consulate  than  since  the  Restora- 
tion.—  Fire  at  Saint-Cloud.  —  The  waiting-room.  —  The  bourgeois  bed. 
—  How  the  First  Consul  went  at  night  to  his  wife's  room.  —  Duty  and 
conjugal  triumph. — A  gallant  caught  in  the  act.  —  Excessive  severity 
towards  a  young  girl. — Arms  of  honor  and  the  soldiers. — The  baptism 
of  blood.  — The  First  Consul  following  the  plow.  — Laborers  and  coun- 
selors of  state.  —  The  grenadier  of  the  Republic  turned  laborer.  — Audi- 
ence of  the  First  Consul.  —  The  author  introduces  him  into  the  General's 
cabinet.  —  Kind  reception  and  singular  conversation. 

THE  tour  of  the  First  Consul  through  the  wealthiest  and 
most  enlightened  departments  of  France  had  removed  from 
his  mind  the  apprehension  of  many  difficulties  which  he 
had  feared  at  first  in  the  execution  of  his  plans.  Every- 
where he  had  been  treated  as  a  monarch,  and  not  only  he 
personally,  but  Madame  Bonaparte  also,  had  been  received 
with  all  the  honors  usually  reserved  for  crowned  heads. 
There  was  no  difference  between  the  homage  offered  them 
at  this  time,  and  that  which  they  received  later,  even  during 
the  Empire,  when  their  Majesties  made  tours  of  their  states 
at  different  times.  For  this  reason  I  shall  give  some  de- 
tails ;  and  if  they  should  seem  too  long,  or  not  very  novel, 
the  reader  will  remember  that  I  am  not  writing  only  for 
those  who  lived  during  the  Empire.  The  generation  which 


THE  GENESIS   OF  THE  EMPIRE.  153 

witnessed  such  great  deeds,  and  which,  under  their  very 
eyes,  and  from  the  beginning  of  his  career,  saw  the  greatest 
man  of  this  century,  has  already  given  place  to  another 
generation,  which  can  judge  him  only  by  what  others  may 
narrate  of  him.  What  may  be  familiar  to  those  who  saw 
with  their  own  eyes  is  not  so  to  others,  who  can  only 
take  at  second-hand  those  things  which  they  had  no  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  for  themselves.  Besides,  details  omitted 
as  frivolous  or  commonplace  by  history,  which  makes  a  pro- 
fession of  more  gravity,  are  perfectly  appropriate  in  simple 
memoirs,  and  often  enable  one  to  understand  and  judge 
the  epoch  more  correctly.  For  instance,  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  enthusiasm  displayed  by  the  entire  population  and 
all  the  local  authorities  for  the  First  Consul  and  his  wife 
during  their  tour  in  Normandy  showed  clearly  that  the 
chief  of  the  state  would  have  no  great  opposition  to  fear, 
certainly  none  on  the  part  of  the  nation,  whenever  it  should 
please  him  to  change  his  title,  and  proclaim  himself  Emperor. 
Soon  after  our  return,  by  a  decree  of  the  consuls  four 
ladies  were  assigned  to  Madame  Bonaparte  to  assist  her  in 
doing  the  honors  of  the  palace.  They  were  Mesdames  de  Re- 
musat,  de  Tallouet,  de  Lugay,  and  de  Lauriston.  Under  the 
Empire  they  became  ladies-in-waiting.  Madame  de  Lau- 
riston often  raised  a  smile  by  little  exhibitions  of  parsimony, 
but  she  was  good  and  obliging.  Madame  de  Remusat 
possessed  great  merit,  and  had  sound  judgment,  though 
she  appeared  somewhat  haughty,  which  was  the  more  re- 
markable as  M.  de  Remusat  was  exactly  the  reverse.  Sub- 
sequently there  was  another  lady  of  honor,  Madame  de  La 
Rochefoucault,  of  whom  I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak 
later. 


154  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  lady  of  the  robes,  Madame  de  Lugay,  was  succeeded 
by  Madame  La  Vallette,  so  gloriously  known  afterwards  by 
her  devotion  to  her  husband.  There  were  twenty-four 
French  ladies-in-waiting,  among  whom  were  Mesdames  de 
Remusat,  de  Tallouet,  de  Lauriston,  Ney,  d'Arberg,  Louise 
d'Arberg  (afterwards  the  Countess  of  Lobau),  de  Walsh- 
Serent,  de  Colbert,  Lannes,  Savary,  de  Turenne,  Octave  de 
Segur,  de  Montalivet,  de  Marescot,  de  Bouille  Solar,  Las- 
caris,  de  Brignole,  de  Canisy,  de  Chevreuse,  Victor  de 
Mortemart,  de  Montmorency,  Matignon,  and  Maret.  There 
were  also  twelve  Italian  ladies-in-waiting. 

These  ladies  served  in  turn  one  month  each,  there  being 
thus  two  French  and  one  Italian  lady  on  duty  together. 
The  Emperor  at  first  did  not  admit  unmarried  ladies  among 
the  ladies-in-waiting ;  but  he  relaxed  this  rule  first  in  favor 
of  Mademoiselle  Louise  d'Arberg  (afterwards  Countess  of 
Lobau),  and  then  in  favor  of  Mademoiselle  de  Luc,  ay,  who 
has  since  married  Count  Philip  de  Segur,  author  of  the 
excellent  history  of  the  campaign  in  Russia ;  and  these  two 
young  ladies  by  their  prudence  and  circumspect  conduct 
proved  themselves  above  criticism  even  at  court. 

There  were  four  lady  ushers,  Mesdames  Soustras, 
Ducrest-Villeneuve,  Felicite  Longroy,  and  Egle  Marchery. 

Two  first  ladies'  maids,  Mesdames  Roy  and  Marco  de 
St.  Hilaire,  who  had  under  their  charge  the  grand  wardrobe 
and  the  jewel-box. 

There  were  four  ladies'  maids  in  ordinary. 

A  lady  reader. 

The  men  on  the  staff  of  the  Empress's  household  were 
the  following :  — 

A  grand  equerry,  Senator  Harville,  who  discharged  the 
duties  of  a  chevalier  of  honor. 


THE  EMFHEUS'S  HOUSEHOLD.  155 

A  head  chamberlain,  the  general  of  division,  Nansouty.1 

A  vice-chamberlain,  introducer  of  the  ambassadors,  de 
Beaumont. 

Four  chamberlains  in  ordinary,  de  Courtomer,  Degrave, 
Galard  de  Beam,  Hector  d'Aubusson  de  la  Feuillade. 

Four  equerries,  Corbineau,  Berckheim,  d'Audenarde, 
and  Fouler. 

A  superintendent-general  of  her  Majesty's  household, 
Hinguerlot. 

A  secretary  of  commands,  Deschamps. 

Two  head  valets,  Frere  and  Douville. 

Four  valets  in  ordinary. 

Four  men  servants. 

Two  head  footmen,  L'Esperance  and  d'Argens.  Six 
ordinary  footmen.  The  staff  of  the  kitchen  and  sanitation 
were  the  same  as  in  the  household  of  the  Emperor;  and 
besides  these,  six  pages  of  the  Emperor  were  always  in 
attendance  upon  the  Empress. 

The  chief  almoner  was  Ferdinand  de  Rohan,  former 
archbishop  of  Cambray. 

Another  decree  of  the  same  date  fixed  the  duties  of  the 
prefects  of  the  palace.  The  four  head  prefects  of  the  con- 
sular palace  were  de  Remusat,  de  Crayamel  (afterwards 
appointed  introducer  of  ambassadors,  and  master  of  cere- 
monies), de  Luc,ay,  and  Didelot.  The  latter  subsequently 
became  prefect  of  the  Department  of  the  Cher. 

Malmaison  was  no  longer  sufficient  for  the  First  Consul, 
whose  household,  like  that  of  Madame  Bonaparte,  became 

1  Count  Stephen  Champhion  de  Nansouty  was  born  at  Bordeaux,  17G8. 
One  of  the  best  cavalry  officers  of  his  time.  He  closed  the  battle  at  Auster- 
litz,  1805,  and  opened  that  of  Wagrani,  1809.  Wounded  at  Borodino,  1812; 
and  commanded  the  cavalry  at  Leipsic.  Died,  February,  1815. — TKANS. 


156  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

daily  more  numerous.  A  much  larger  building  had  become 
necessary,  and  the  First  Consul  fixed  his  choice  upon  Saint- 
Cloud. 

The  inhabitants  of  Saint-Cloud  addressed  a  petition  to 
the  Corps  Legislatif,  praying  that  the  First  Consul  would 
make  their  chateau  his  summer  residence ;  and  this  body 
hastened  to  transmit  it  to  him,  adding  their  prayers  to 
the  same  effect,  and  making  comparisons  which  they  be- 
lieved would  be  agreeable  to  him.  The  general  refused 
formally,  saying  that  when  he  should  have  finished  and 
laid  down  the  duties  with  which  the  people  had  charged 
him,  he  would  feel  honored  by  any  recompense  which  the 
popular  will  might  award  him ;  but  that  so  long  as  he  was 
the  chief  of  the  Government  he  would  accept  nothing. 

Notwithstanding  the  determined  tone  of  this  reply,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Saint^Cloud,  who  had  the  great- 
est interest  in  the  petition  being  granted,  renewed  it  when 
the  First  Consul  was  chosen  consul  for  life ;  and  he  then 
consented  to  accept.  The  expenses  of  the  repairs  and 
furnishing  were  immense,  and  greatly  exceeded  the  calcula- 
tions that  had  been  made  for  him ;  nevertheless,  he  was 
not  satisfied  either  with  the  furniture  or  ornaments,  and 
complained  to  Charvet,  the  concierge  at  Malmaison,  whom 
he  appointed  to  the  same  post  in  the  new  palace,  and  whom 
he  had  charged  with  the  general  supervision  of  the  furnish- 
ing and  the  placing  of  the  furniture,  that  he  had  fitted  up 
apartments  suitable  only  for  a  mistress,  and  that  they  con- 
tained only  gewgaws  and  spangles,  and  nothing  substan- 
tial. On  this  occasion,  also,  he  gave  another  proof  of  his 
habitual  desire  to  do  good,  in  spite  of  prejudices  which  had 
not  yet  spent  their  force.  Knowing  that  there  were  at 


FIRE  AT  SAINT-CLOUD.  157 

Saint-Cloud  a  large  number  of  the  former  servants  of  Queen 
Marie  Antoinette,  he  charged  Charvet  to  offer  them  either 
their  old  places  or  pensions,  and  most  of  them  resumed  their 
former  posts.  In  1814  the  Bourbons  were  far  from  acting 
so  generously,  for  they  discharged  all  employees,  even  those 
who  had  served  Marie  Antoinette. 

The  First  Consul  had  been  installed  at  Saint-Cloud  only 
a  short  while,  when  the  chateau,  which  had  thus  again 
become  the  residence  of  the  sovereign  at  enormous  ex- 
pense, came  near  falling  a  prey  to  the  flames.  The  guard- 
room was  under  the  vestibule,  in  the  center  of  the  palace ; 
and  one  night,  the  soldiers  having  made  an  unusually  large 
fire,  the  stove  became  so  hot  that  a  sofa,  whose  back 
touched  one  of  the  flues  which  warmed  the  saloon,  took  fire, 
and  the  flames  were  quickly  communicated  to  the  other 
furniture.  The  officer  on  duty  perceiving  this,  immediately 
notified  the  concierge,  and  together  they  ran  to  General 
Duroc's  room  and  awoke  him.  The  general  rose  in  haste, 
and,  commanding  perfect  silence,  made  a  chain  of  men. 
He  took  his  position  at  the  pool,  in  company  with  the  con- 
cierge, and  thence  passed  buckets  of  water  to  the  soldiers 
for  two  or  three  hours,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  fire 
was  extinguished,  but  only  after  devouring  all  the  furni- 
ture ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  next  morning  that  the 
First  Consul,  Josephine,  Hortense,  in  short,  all  the  other 
occupants  of  the  chateau,  learned  of  the  accident,  all  of 
whom,  the  First  Consul  especially,  expressed  their  appre- 
ciation of  the  consideration  shown  in  not  alarming  them. 
To  prevent,  or  at  least  to  render  such  accidents  less  likely 
in  future,  the  First  Consul  organized  a  night-guard  at  Saint- 
Cloud,  and  subsequently  did  the  same  at  all  his  residences ; 
which  guard  was  called  "the  watch." 


158  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

During  his  early  occupation  of  Saint-Cloud  the  First 
Consul  slept  in  the  same  bed  with  his  wife ;  afterwards  eti- 
quette forbade  this ;  and  as  a  result,  conjugal  affection  was 
somewhat  chilled,  and  finally  the  First  Consul  occupied  an 
apartment  at  some  distance  from  that  of  Madame  Bona- 
parte. To  reach  her  room  it  was  necessary  to  cross  a  long 
corridor,  on  the  right  and  left  of  which  were  the  rooms  of 
the  ladies-in-waiting,  the  women  of  the  service,  etc.  When 
he  wished  to  pass  the  night  with  his  wife,  he  undressed 
in  his  own  room,  and  went  thence  in  his  wrapper  and 
night-cap,  I  going  before  him  with  a  candle.  At  the  end 
of  this  corridor  a  staircase  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  steps  led 
to  the  apartment  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  It  was  a  great 
joy  to  her  to  receive  a  visit  from  her  husband,  and  every 
one  was  informed  of  it  next  morning.  I  can  see  her  now 
rubbing  her  little  hands,  saying,  "I  rose  late  to-day;  but, 
you  see,  it  is  because  Bonaparte  spent  the  night  with  me." 
On  such  days  she  was  more  amiable  than  ever,  refused  no 
one,  and  all  got  whatever  they  requested.  I  experienced 
proofs  of  this  myself  many  times. 

One  evening  as  I  was  conducting  the  First  Consul  on 
one  of  these  visits  to  his  wife,  we  perceived  in  the  corridor 
a  handsome  young  fellow  coming  out  of  the  apartment  of 
one  of  Madame  Bonaparte's  women  servants.  He  tried  to 
steal  away;  but  the  First  Consul  cried  in  a  loud  voice, 
"  Who  goes  there  ?  Where  are  you  going  ?  What  do  you 
want?  What  is  your  name?"  He  was  merely  a  valet. of 
Madame  Bonaparte,  and,  stupefied  by  these  startling  in- 
quiries, replied  in  a  frightened  voice  that  he  had  just  exe- 
cuted an  errand  for  Madame  Bonaparte.  "Very  well," 
replied  the  First  Consul,  "but  do  not  let  me  catch  you 


EXCESSIVE  SEVEEITY.  159 

again."  Satisfied  that  the  gallant  would  profit  by  the 
lesson,  the  general  did  not  seek  to  learn  his  name,  nor  that 
of  his  inamorata.  This  reminds  me  of  an  occasion  on 
which  he  was  much  more  severe  in  regard  to  another 
chambermaid  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  She  was  young, 
and  very  pretty,  and  inspired  very  tender  sentiments  in 
Rapp  and  E—  — ,  two  aides-de-camp,  who  besieged  her 
with  their  sighs,  and  sent  her  flowers  and  billets-doux. 
The  young  girl,  at  least  such  was  the  opinion  of  every 
one,  gave  them  no  encouragement,  and  Josephine  was 
much  attached  to  her;  nevertheless,  when  the  First  Con- 
sul observed  the  gallantries  of  the  young  men,  he  be- 
came  angry,  and  had  the  poor  girl  discharged,  in  spite 
of  her  tears  and  the  prayers  of  Madame  Bonaparte  and  of 
the  brave  and  honest  Colonel  Rapp,  who  swore  naively 
that  the  fault  was  entirely  on  his  side,  that  the  poor  child 
had  not  listened  to  him,  and  that  her  conduct  was  worthy 
of  all  praise.  Nothing  availed  against  the  resolution  of 
the  First  Consul,  whose  only  reply  was,  "I  will  have 
nothing  improper  in  my  household,  and  no  scandal." 

Whenever  the  First  Consul  made  a  distribution  of  arms 
of  honor,  there  was  always  a  banquet  at  the  Tuileries,  to 
which  were  admitted,  without  distinction,  and  whatever  their 
grade,  all  who  had  a  share  in  these  rewards.  At  these 
banquets,  which  took  place  in  the  grand  gallery  of  the 
chateau,  there  were  sometimes  two  hundred  guests ;  and 
General  Duroc  being  master  of  ceremonies  on  these  occa- 
sions, the  First  Consul  took  care  to  recommend  him  to  in- 
termingle the  private  soldiers,  the  colonels,  the  generals, 
etc.  He  ordered  the  domestics  to  show  especial  attention 
to  the  private  soldiers,  and  to  see  that  they  had  plenty 


160  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  the  best  to  eat  and  to  drink.  These  are  the  longest 
repasts  I  have  seen  the  emperor  make ;  and  on  these  occa- 
sions he  was  amiable  and  entirely  unconstrained,  making 
every  effort  to  put  his  guests  entirely  at  their  ease, 
though  with  many  of  them  this  was  a  difficult  task.  Noth- 
ing was  more  amusing  than  to  see  these  brave  soldiers 
sitting  two  feet  from  the  table,  not  daring  to  approach 
their  plates  or  the  food,  red  to  the  ears,  and  with  their 
necks  stretched  out  towards  the  general,  as  if  to  receive  the 
word  of  command.  The  First  Consul  made  them  relate 
the  notable  deeds  which  had  brought  each  his  national 
recognition,  and  often  laughed  boisterously  at  their  singu- 
lar narrations.  He  encouraged  them  to  eat,  and  frequently 
drank  to  their  health ;  but  in  spite  of  all  this,  his  encour- 
agement failed  to  overcome  the  timidity  of  some,  and  the 
servants  removed  the  plates  of  each  course  without  their 
having  touched  them,  though  this  constraint  did  not  prevent 
their  being  full  of  joy  and  enthusiasm  as  they  left  the 
table.  "  Au  revoir,  my  brave  men,"  the  First  Consul  would 
say  to  them;  "baptize  for  me  quickly  these  new-born," 
touching  with  his  fingers  their  sabers  of  honor.  God 
knows  whether  they  spared  themselves ! 

This  preference  of  the  First  Consul  for  the  private 
soldier  recalls  an  instance  which  took  place  at  Malmaison, 
and  which  furnishes,  besides,  a  complete  refutal  of  the 
charges  of  severity  and  harshness  which  have  been  brought 
against  him. 

The  First  Consul  set  out  on  foot  one  morning,  dressed 
in  his  gray  riding-coat,  and  accompanied  by  General  Duroc, 
on  the  road  to  Marly.  Chatting  as  they  walked,  they  saw 
a  plowman,  who  turned  a  furrow  as  he  came  towards  them. 


THE  PLOWMAN.  161 

c'  See  here,  my  good  man,"  said  the  First  Consul,  stopping 
him,  "  your  furrow  is  not  straight.  You  do  not  know  your 
business."-  — "It  is  not  you,  my  fine  gentleman,  who  can 
teach  me.  You  cannot  do  as  well.  No,  indeed  —  you 
think  so;  very  well,  just  try  it,"  replied  the  good  man, 
yielding  his  place  to  the  First  Consul,  who  took  the  plow- 
handle,  and  making  the  team  start,  commenced  to  give  his 
lesson.  But  he  did  not  plow  a.  single  yard  of  a  straight 
line.  The  whole  furrow  was  crooked.  "Come,  come," 
said  the  countryman,  putting  his  hand  on  that  of  the  gen- 
eral to  resume  his  plow,  "  your  work  is  no  good.  Each  one 
to  his  trade.  Saunter  along,  that  is  your  business."  But 
the  First  Consul  did  not  proceed  without  paying  for  the 
lesson  he  had  received.  General  Duroc  handed  the  laborer 
two  or  three  louis  to  compensate  him  for  the  loss  of  time 
they  had  caused  him ;  and  the  countryman,  astonished  by 
this  generosity,  quitted  his  plow  to  relate  his  adventure, 
and  met  on  the  way  a  woman  whom  he  told  that  he  had 
met  two  big  men,  judging  by  what  he  had  in  his  hand. 
The  woman,  better  informed,  asked  him  to  describe  the 
dress  of  the  men,  and  from  his  description  ascertained  that 
it  was  the  First  Consul  and  one  of  his  staff ;  the  good 
man  was  overcome  with  astonishment.  The  next  day  he 
made  a  brave  resolution,  and  donning  his  best  clothes,  pre- 
sented himself  at  Malmaison,  requesting  to  speak  to  the 
First  Consul,  to  thank  him,  he  said,  for  the  fine  present 
he  had  given  him  the  day  before.1 

1  The  author  of  the  Memorial  quotes  of  the  Emperor  at  St.  Helena  an 
incident  similar  to  that  above  stated.  His  Majesty  professed  the  highest 
esteem  for  the  cultivators  of  the  soil,  and  consulted  them  even  on  matters 
foreign  to  their  occupation,  but  as  to  which  their  good  sense  and  experience 
could  offer  wise  advice.  He  was  accustomed  to  say  that  he  submitted  to 
peasants  the  difficult  questions  before  the  Council  of  State,  and  reported  to  the 
Council  of  State  the  observations  of  the  peasants.  —  NOTE  BY  CONSTANT. 


162  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

I  notified  the  First  Consul  of  this  visit,  and  he  ordered 
me  to  bring  the  laborer  in.  While  I  was  gone  to  announce 
him,  he  had,  according  to  his  own  expression,  taken  his  cour- 
age in  both  hands  to  prepare  himself  for  this  grand  inter- 
view ;  and  I  found  him  on  my  return,  standing  in  the  center 
of  the  antechamber  (for  he  did  not  dare  to  sit  upon  the 
sofas,  which  though  very  simple  seemed  to  him  magnifi- 
cent), and  pondering  what  he  should  say  to  the  First 
Consul  in  token  of  his  gratitude.  I  preceded  him,  and  he 
followed  me,  placing  each  foot  cautiously  on  the  carpet; 
and  when  I  opened  the  door  of  the  cabinet,  he  insisted 
with  much  civility  on  my  going  first.  When  the  First 
Consul  had  nothing  private  to  say  or  dictate,  he  permitted 
the  door  to  stand  open ;  and  he  now  made  me  a  sign  not 
to  close  it,  so  that  I  was  able  to  see  and  hear  all  that 
passed. 

The  honest  laborer  commenced,  on  entering  the  cabinet, 
by  saluting  the  back  of  de  Bourrienne,  who  could  not  see 
him,  occupied  as  he  was  in  writing  upon  a  small  table 
placed  in  the  recess  of  a  window.  The  First  Consul  saw 
him  make  his  bows,  himself  reclining  in  his  armchair,  one 
of  the  arms  of  which,  according  to  habit,  he  was  pricking 
with  the  point  of  his  knife.  Finally  he  spoke.  "  Well,  my 
brave  fellow."  The  peasant  turned,  recognized  him,  and 
saluted  anew.  "Well,"  continued  the  First  Consul,  "has 
the  harvest  been  fine  this  year  ?  "  —  "  No,  with  all  respect, 
Citizen  General,  but  not  so  very  bad." 

"  In  order  tHat  the  earth  should  produce,  it  is  necessary 
that  it  should  be  turned  up,  is  it  not  so?  Fine  gentlemen 
are  no  good  for  such  work." 

"  Meaning  no  offense,  General,  the  bourgeois  have  hands 


THE  OLD   SOLDIER.  163 

too  soft  to  handle  a  plow.  There  is  need  of  a  hard  fist 
to  handle  these  tools." 

"  That  is  so,"  replied  the  First  Consul,  smiling.  "  But 
big  and  strong  as  you  are,  you  should  handle  something 
else  than  a  plow.  A  good  musket,  for  instance,  or  the 
handle  of  a  good  saber." 

The  laborer  drew  himself  up  with  an  air  of  pride. 
"  General,  in  my  time  I  have  done  as  others.  I  had  been 

married  six  or  seven  years  when  these  d d  Prussians 

(pardon  me,  General)  entered  Landrecies.  The  requisition 
came.  They  gave  me  a  gun  and  a  cartridge-box  at  the 
Commune  headquarters,  and  march !  My  soul,  we  were 
not  equipped  like  those  big  gallants  that  I  saw  just  now 
on  entering  the  courtyard."  He  referred  to  the  grenadiers 
of  the  Consular  Guard. 

"  Why  did  you  quit  the  service  ?  "  resumed  the  First 
Consul,  who  appeared  to  take  great  interest  in  the  conversa- 
tion. 

"  My  faith,  General,  each  one  in  his  turn,  and  there  are 
saber  strokes  enough  for  every  one.  One  fell  on  me  there  " 
(the  worthy  laborer  bent  his  head  and  divided  the  locks  of 
his  hair) ;  "  and  after  some  weeks  in  the  field  hospital,  they 
gave  me  a  discharge  to  return  to  my  wife  and  my  plow." 

"  Have  you  any  children  ?  " 

"  I  have  three,  General,  two  boys  and  a  girl." 

"  You  must  make  a  soldier  of  the  oldest.  If  he  will 
conduct  himself  well,  I  will  take  care  of  him.  Adieu,  my 
brave  man.  Whenever  I  can  help  you,  come  to  see  me 
again."  The  First  Consul  rose,  made  de  Bourrienne  give 
him  some  louis,  which  he  added  to  those  the  laborer  had 
already  received  from  him,  and  directed  me  to  show  him 


164  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

out,  and  we  had  already  reached  the  antechamber,  when  the 
First  Consul  called  the  peasant  back  to  say  to  him,  — 
"  You  were  at  Fleurus  ?  " 
"  Yes,  General." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  name  of  your  general-in-chief  ?  " 
"  Indeed,  I  should  think  so.     It  was  General  Jourdan." 
"That  is  correct.     Au  revoir;"  and  I  carried  off  the 
old  soldier  of  the  Republic,  enchanted  with  his  reception. 


VISIT  TO  BOULOGNE.  165 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  envoy  of  the  Bey  of  Tunis  and  Arab  horses.  —  Bad  faith  of  England.  — 
Visit  to  Boulogne.  — In  Flanders  and  Belgium.  —  Continual  journeys.  — 
The  author  does  duty  as  head  valet.  —  D6but  of  Constant  as  barber 
of  the  First  Consul.  —  Apprenticeship.  —  Plebeian  chins.  —  The  eagle 
glance. — The  First  Consul  hard  to  shave.  —  Constant  persuades  him  to 
shave  himself.  —  His  reasons  for  persuading  the  First  Consul  to  this.  — 
The  First  Consul's  confidence  and  imprudent  sense  of  security.  —  The 
first  lesson.  —  Some  cuts.  —  Mild  reproaches.  —  Awkwardness  of  the 
First  Consul  in  holding  his  razor.  —  Leading  citizens  and  their  ha- 
rangues.— Arrival  of  the  First  Consul  at  Boulogne. — Preliminaries  of 
the  formation  of  the  camp  of  Boulogne.  —  Address  of  twenty  fathers  of 
families.  —  Sea-fight  gained  by  Admiral  Bruix  against  the  English.  — 
Dinner  and  victory.  —  The  English  and  the  iron-clad  coast.  —  An 
attempt  upon  the  person  of  the  First  Consul. — Rapidity  of  the  journey. 

—  The  minister  of  police.  —  Presents  offered  by  the  cities.  —  Public  works 
ordered  by  the  First  Consul.  — Munificence.  — The  First  Consul  a  bad 
coachman.  —  Pallor  of  Cambaceres.  —  The  fainting-fit.  —  The  precepts 
of  the  gospel.  —  Slumber  without  dreams. — The  Ottoman  ambassador. 

—  Cashmere  shawls.  —  The  Mussulman  at  prayers  and  at  the  theater. 

AT  the  beginning  of  this  year  (1803),  there  arrived  at 
Paris  an  envoy  from  Tunis,  who  presented  the  First  Con- 
sul, on  the  part  of  the  Bey,  with  ten  Arab  horses.  The 
Bey  at  that  time  feared  the  anger  of  England,  and  hoped 
to  find  in  France  a  powerful  ally,  capable  of  protecting 
him;  and  he  could  not  have  found  a  better  time  to  make 
the  application,  for  everything  announced  the  rupture  of  the 
peace  of  Amiens,  over  which  all  Europe  had  so  greatly  re- 
joiced, for  England  had  kept  none  of  her  promises,  and  had 
executed  no  article  of  the  treaty.  On  his  side,  the  First 
Consul,  shocked  by  such  bad  faith,  and  not  wishing  to  be  a 


166  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

dupe,  openly  prepared  for  war,  and  ordered  the  filling  up  of 
the  ranks,  and  a  new  levy  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand conscripts.  War  was  officially  declared  in  June,  but 
hostilities  had  already  begun  before  this  time. 

At  the  end  of  this  month  the  First  Consul  made  a 
journey  to  Boulogne,  and  visited  Picardy,  Flanders,  and 
Belgium,  in  order  to  organize  an  expedition  which  he  was 
meditating  against  the  English,  and  to  place  the  northern 
seacoast  in  a  state  of  defense.  He  returned  to  Paris  in 
August,  but  set  out  in  November  for  a  second  visit  to 
Boulogne. 

This  constant  traveling  was  too  much  for  Hambard, 
who  for  a  long  time  had  been  in  feeble  health;  and  when 
the  First  Consul  was  on  the  point  of  setting  out  for  his 
first  tour  in  the  North,  Hambard  had  asked  to  be  excused, 
alleging,  which  was  only  too  true,  the  bad  state  of  his 
health.  "See  how  you  are,"  said  the  First  Consul,  "always 
sick  and  complaining ;  and  if  you  stay  here,  who  then  will 
shave  me  ?  "  -  "  General,"  replied  Hambard,  "  Constant 
knows  how  to  shave  as  well  as  I."  I  was  present,  and  oc- 
cupied at  that  very  moment  in  dressing  the  First  Consul. 
He  looked  at  me  and  said,  "  Well,  you  queer  fellow,  since 
you  are  so  skilled,  you  shall  make  proof  of  it  at  once.  We 
must  see  how  you  will  do."  I  knew  the  misadventure  of 
poor  Hebert,  which  I  have  already  related ;  and  not  wishing 
a  like  experience,  I  had  been  for  some  time  practicing  the 
art  of  shaving.  I  had  paid  a  hairdresser  to  teach  me  his 
trade :  and  I  had  even,  in  my  moments  of  leisure,  served  an 
apprenticeship  in  his  shop,  where  I  had  shaved,  without 
distinction,  all  his  customers.  The  chins  of  these  good 
people  had  suffered  somewhat  before  I  had  acquired  suifi- 


CONSTANT  AS  BARBER.  167 

cient  dexterity  to  lay  a  razor  on  the  consular  chin ;  but  by 
dint  of  repeated  experiments  on  the  beards  of  the  common- 
alty I  had  achieved  a  degree  of  skill  which  inspired  me 
with  the  greatest  confidence;  so,  in  obedience  to  the  order 
of  the  First  Consul,  I  brought  the  warm  water,  opened  the 
razor  boldly,  and  began  operations.  Just  as  I  was  going  to 
place  the  razor  upon  the  face  of  the  First  Consul,  he  raised 
himself  abruptly,  turned,  and  fastened  both  eyes  upon  me, 
with  an  expression  of  severity  and  interrogation  which  I  am 
unable  to  describe.  Seeing  that  I  was  not  at  all  embar- 
rassed, he  seated  himself  again,  saying  to  me  in  a  mild 
tone,  "  Proceed."  This  I  did  with  sufficient  skill  to  satisfy 
him ;  and  when  I  had  finished,  he  said  to  me,  "  Hereafter 
you  are  to  shave  me ;"  and,  in  fact,  after  that  he  was  unwil- 
ling to  be  shaved  by  any  one  else.  From  that  time  also  my 
duties  became  much  more  exacting,  for  every  day  I  had  to 
shave  the  First  Consul ;  and  I  admit  that  it  was  not  an  easy 
thing  to  do,  for  while  he  was  being  shaved,  he  often  spoke, 
read  the  papers,  moved  about  in  his  chair,  turned  himself 
abruptly,  and  I  was  obliged  to  use  the  greatest  precautions 
in  order  not  to  cut  him.  Happily  this  never  occurred. 
When  by  chance  he  did  not  speak,  he  remained  immobile 
and  stiff  as  a  statue,  and  could  not  be  made  to  lower,  nor 
raise,  nor  bend  his  head  to  one  side,  as  was  necessary  to 
accomplish  the  task  easily.  He  also  had  a  singular  fancy 
of  having  one  half  of  his  face  lathered  and  shaved  before 
beginning  the  other,  and  would  not  allow  me  to  pass  to  the 
other  side  of  his  face  until  the  first  half  was  completely 
finished,  as  the  First  Consul  found  that  plan  suited  him 
best. 

Later,   when    I   had   become   his    chief   valet,    and   he 


168  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  XAPOLEON. 

deigned  to  give  me  proofs  of  his  kindness  and  esteem,  and 
I  could  talk  with  him  as  freely  as  his  rank  permitted,  I 
took  the  liberty  of  persuading  him  to  shave  himself ;  for, 
as  I  have  just  said,  not  wishing  to  be  shaved  by  any  one 
except  me,  he  was  obliged  to  wait  till  I  could  be  notified, 
especially  in  the  army,  when  his  hour  of  rising  was  not 
regular.  He  refused  for  a  long  time  to  take  my  advice, 
though  I  often  repeated  it.  "Ah,  ha,  Mr.  Idler !  "  he  would 
say  to  me,  laughing,  "you  are  very  anxious  for  me  to  do 
half  your  work  ;"  but  at  last  I  succeeded  in  satisfying  him 
of  my  disinterestedness  and  the  wisdom  of  my  advice.  The 
fact  is,  I  was  most  anxious  to  persuade  him  to  this ;  for, 
considering  what  would  necessarily  happen  if  an  unavoid- 
able absence,  an  illness,  or  some  other  reason,  had  separated 
me  from  the  First  Consul,  I  could  not  reflect,  without  a 
shudder,  of  his  life  being  at  the  mercy  of  the  first  comer. 
As  for  him,  I  am  sure  he  never  gave  the  matter  a  thought ; 
for  whatever  tales  have  been  related  of  his  suspicious  nature, 
he  never  took  any  precaution  against  the  snares  which  trea- 
son might  set  for  him.  His  sense  of  security,  in  this  regard, 
amounted  even  to  imprudence ;  and  consequently  all  who 
loved  him,  especially  those  who  surrounded  him,  endeav- 
ored to  make  up  for  this  want  of  precaution  by  all  the  vigi- 
lance of  which  they  were  capable ;  and  it  is  unnecessary  to 
assert  that  it  was  this  solicitude  for  the  precious  life  of  my 
master  which  had  caused  me  to  insist  upon  the  advice  I  had 
given  him  to  shave  himself. 

On  the  first  occasions  on  which  he  attempted  to  put  my 
lessons  into  practice,  it  was  even  more  alarming  than  laugh- 
able to  watch  the  Emperor  (for  such  he  was  then)  ;  as  in 
spite  of  the  lessons  that  I  had  given  him  with  repeated 


NAPOLEON  SHAVES  HIMSELF.  169 

illustrations,  he  did  not  yet  know  how  to  hold  his  razor. 
He  would  seize  it  by  the  handle,  and  apply  it  perpen- 
dicularly to  his  cheek,  instead  of  laying  it  flat ;  he  would 
make  a  sudden  dash  with  the  razor,  never  failing  to  give 
himself  a  cut,  and  then  draw  back  his  hand  quickly,  crying 
out,  "See  there,  you  scamp;  you  have  made  me  cut  my- 
self." I  would  then  take  the  razor  and  finish  the  operation. 
The  next  day  the  same  scene  would  be  repeated,  but  with 
less  bloodshed ;  and  each  day  the  skill  of  the  Emperor  im- 
proved, until  at  last,  by  dint  of  numberless  lessons,  he  be- 
came sufficiently  an  adept  to  dispense  with  me,  though  he 
still  cut  himself  now  and  then,  for  which  he  would  always 
mildly  reproach  me,  though  jestingly  and  in  kindness.  Be- 
sides, from  the  manner  in  which  he  began,  and  which  he 
would  never  change,  it  was  impossible  for  him  not  to  cut 
his  face  sometimes,  for  he  shaved  himself  downward,  and 
not  upward,  like  every  one  else;  and  this  bad  method, 
which  all  my  efforts  could  not  change,  added  to  the  habitual 
abruptness  of  his  movements,  made  me  shudder  every  time 
I  saw  him  take  his  razor  in  hand. 

Madame  Bonaparte  accompanied  the  First  Consul  on  the 
first  of  these  journeys ;  and  there  was,  as  on  that  to  Lyons, 
a  continued  succession  of  fetes  and  rejoicing. 

The  inhabitants  of  Boulogne  had,  in  anticipation  of  the 
arrival  of  the  First  Consul,  raised  several  triumphal  arches, 
extending  from  the  Montreuil  gate  as  far  as  the  great  road 
which  led  to  his  barrack,  which  was  situated  in  the  camp 
on  the  right.  Each  arch  of  triumph  was  decorated  with 
evergreens,  and  thereon  could  be  read  the  names  of  the 
skirmishes  and  battles  in  which  he  had  been  victorious. 
These  domes  and  arches  of  verdure  and  flowers  presented 


170  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

an  admirable  coup-d^-ceil.  One  arch  of  triumph,  higher  than 
the  others,  was  placed  in  the  midst  of  the  Rue  de  1'ficu  (the 
main  street),  and  the  Slite  of  the  citizens  had  assembled 
around  it ;  while  more  than  a  hundred  young  people  with 
garlands  of  flowers,  children,  old  men,  and  a  great  number 
of  brave  men  whom  military  duty  had  not  detained  in  the 
camp,  awaited  with  impatience  the  arrival  of  the  First  Con- 
sul. At  his  approach  the  joyful  booming  of  cannon  an- 
nounced to  the  English,  whose  fleet  was  near  by  in  the  sea 
off  Boulogne,  the  appearance  of  Napoleon  upon  the  shore 
on  which  he  had  assembled  the  formidable  army  he  had 
determined  to  hurl  against  England. 

The  First  Consul  was  mounted  upon  a  small  gray  horse, 
which  was  active  as  a  squirrel.  He  dismounted,  and  fol- 
lowed by  his  brilliant  staff,  addressed  these  paternal  words 
to  the  citizens  of  the  town:  "I  come  to  assure  the  hap- 
piness of  France.  The  sentiments  which  you  express,  and 
all  your  evidences  of  gratitude,  touch  me;  I  shall  never 
forget  my  entrance  into  Boulogne,  which  I  have  chosen  as 
the  center  of  the  reunion  of  my  armies.  Citizens,  do  not 
be  alarmed  by  this  multitude.  It  is  that  of  the  defenders 
of  your  country,  soon  to  be  the  conquerors  of  haughty 
England." 

The  First  Consul  proceeded  on  his  route,  surrounded  by 
the  whole  populace,  who  accompanied  him  to  the  door  of 
his  headquarters,  where  more  than  thirty  generals  received 
him,  though  the  firing  of  cannon,  the  ringing  of  bells,  the 
cries  of  joy,  ceased  only  when  this  great  day  ended. 

The  day  after  our  arrival,  the  First  Consul  visited  the 
Pont  de  Brique,  a  little  village  situated  about  half  a  league 
from  Boulogne.  A  farmer  read  to  him  the  following  com- 
plimentary address :  - 


VISIT  TO  BOULOGNE.  171 

"  General,  in  the  name  of  twenty  fathers  we  offer  you 
a  score  of  fine  fellows  who  are,  and  always  will  be,  at  your 
command.  Lead  them,  General.  They  can  strike  a  good 
blow  for  you  when  you  march  into  England.  As  to  us,  we 
will  discharge  another  duty.  We  will  till  the  earth  in 
order  that  bread  may  not  be  wanting  to  the  brave  men 
who  will  crush  the  English." 

Napoleon,  smiling,  thanked  the  patriotic  countrymen, 
and  glancing  towards  the  little  country  house,  built  on 
the  edge  of  the  highway,  spoke  to  General  Berthier,  say- 
ing, "This  is  where  I  wish  my  headquarters  established." 
Then  he  spurred  his  horse  and  rode  off,  while  a  general  and 
some  officers  remained  to  execute  the  order  of  the  First 
Consul,  who,  on  the  very  night  of  his  arrival  at  Boulogne, 
returned  to  sleep  at  Pont  de  Brique. 

They  related  to  me  at  Boulogne  the  details  of  a  naval 
combat  which  had  taken  place  a  short  time  before  our 
arrival  between  the  French  fleet,  commanded  by  Admiral 
Bruix,1  and  the  English  squadron  with  which  Nelson l 
blockaded  the  port  of  Boulogne.  I  will  relate  this  as 
told  to  me,  deeming  very  unusual  the  comfortable  mode 
in  which  the  French  admiral  directed  the  operations  of  the 
sailors. 

About  two  hundred  boats,  counting  gunboats  and  mor- 
tars, barges  and  sloops,  formed  the  line  of  defense,  the 


1  Admiral  Bruix,  born  in  St.  Domingo  in  1759.    Ho  was  minister  of  the 
navy,  and  admiral.    Died,  worn  out  by  his  labors,  at  Boulogne,  1805.  —TRANS. 

2  Horatio  Nelson,  born  in  County  of  Norfolk,  England,  1758.    Entered  the 
navy  at  twelve  years  of  age.     Gained  the  battle  of  Aboukir,  destroying  the 
French  fleet,  in  1799,  was  at  the  taking  of  Copenhagen,  and  won  the  celebrated 
battle  of  Trafalgar,  October,  1805,  in  which  ho  was  killed.     His  body  was  car- 
ried to  London  and  buried  in  St.  Paul's.  —  TRANS. 


172  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

shore  and  the  forts  bristling  with  batteries.  Some  frigates 
advanced  from  the  hostile  line,  and,  preceded  by  two  or 
three  brigs,  ranged  themselves  in  line  of  battle  before  us 
and  in  reach  of  the  cannon  of  our  flotilla ;  and  the  combat 
began.  Balls  flew  in  every  direction.  Nelson,  who  had 
promised  the  destruction  of  the  flotilla,  re-enforced  his  line 
of  battle  with  two  other  lines  of  vessels  and  frigates ;  and 
thus  placed  en  echelon,  they  fought  with  a  vastly  superior 
force.  For  more  than  seven  hours  the  sea,  covered  with 
fire  and  smoke,  offered  to  the  entire  population  of  Bou- 
logne the  superb  and  frightful  spectacle  of  a  naval  combat 
in  which  more  than  eighteen  hundred  cannon  were  fired  at 
the  same  time ;  but  the  genius  of  Nelson  could  not  avail 
against  our  sailors  or  soldiers.  Admiral  Bruix  was  at  his 
headquarters  near  the  signal  station,  and  from  this  posi- 
tion directed  the  fight  against  Nelson,  while  drinking  with 
his  staff  and  some  ladies  of  Boulogne  whom  he  had  invited 
to  dinner.  The  guests  sang. the  early  victories  of  the  First 
Consul,  while  the  admiral,  without  leaving  the  table,  ma- 
neuvered the  flotilla  by  means  of  the  signals  he  ordered. 
Nelson,  eager  to  conquer,  ordered  all  his  naval  forces  to 
advance ;  but  the  wind  being  in  favor  of  the  French,  he  was 
not  able  to  keep  the  promise  he  had  made  in  London  to 
burn  our  fleet,  while  on  the  contrary  many  of  his  own  boats 
were  so  greatly  damaged,  that  Admiral  Bruix,  seeing  the 
English  begin  to  retire,  cried  "Victory!"  pouring  out 
champagne  for  his  guests.  The  French  flotilla  suffered 
very  little,  while  the  enemy's  squadron  was  ruined  by  the 
steady  fire  of  our  stationary  batteries.  On  that  day  the 
English  learned  that  they  could  not  possibly  approach 
the  shore  at  Boulogne,  which  after  this  they  named  the  Iron 
Coast  (Cote  de  Fer~). 


ASSASSINATION  FRUSTRATED.  173 

When  the  First  Consul  left  Boulogne,  he  made  his  ar- 
rangements to  pass  through  Abbeville,  and  to  stop  twenty- 
four  hours  there.  The  mayor  of  the  town  left  nothing 
undone  towards  a  suitable  reception,  and  Abbeville  was 
magnificent  on  that  day.  The  finest  trees  from  the  neigh- 
boring woods  were  taken  up  bodily  with  their  roots  to  form 
avenues  in  all  the  streets  through  which  the  First  Consul 
was  to  pass;  and  some  of  the  citizens,  who  owned  magnifi- 
cent gardens,  sent  their  rarest  shrubs  to  be  displayed  along 
his  route  ;  and  carpets  from  the  factory  of  Hecquet^Dorval 
were  spread  on  the  ground,  to  be  trodden  by  his  horses. 
But  unforeseen  circumstances  suddenly  cut  short  the  fete. 
A  courier,  sent  by  the  minister  of  police,1  arrived  as  we 
were  approaching  the  town,  who  notified  the  First  Consul 
of  a  plot  to  assassinate  him  two  leagues  farther  on ;  the  very- 
day  and  hour  were  named.  To  baffle  the  attempt  that  they 
intended  against  his  person,  the  First  Consul  traversed  the 
city  in  a  gallop,  and,  followed  by  some  lancers,  went  to  the 
spot  where  he  was  to  be  attacked,  halted  about  half  an 
hour,  ate  some  Abbeville  cakes,  and  set  out.  The  assassins 
were  deceived.  They  had  not  expected  his  arrival  until 
the  next  day. 

The  First  Consul  and  Madame  Bonaparte  continued 
their  journey  through  Picardy,  Flanders,  and  the  Low 
Countries.  Each  day  the  First  Consul  received  offers  of 
vessels  of  war  from  the  different  council-generals,  the 
citizens  continued  to  offer  him  addresses,  and  the  mayors 
to  present  him  with  the  keys  of  the  cities,  as  if  he 
exercised  royal  power.  Amiens,  Dunkirk,  Lille,  Bruges, 
Ghent,  Brussels,  Liege,  and  Namur  distinguished  them- 

i  Fouchd.  — TRANS. 


174  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

selves  by  the  brilliant  receptions  they  gave  to  the  illus- 
trious travelers.  The  inhabitants  of  Antwerp  presented 
the  First  Consul  with  six  magnificent  bay  horses.  Every- 
where also,  the  First  Consul  left  valuable  souvenirs  of  his 
journey;  and  by  his  orders,  works  were  immediately  com- 
menced to  deepen  and  improve  the  port  of  Amiens.  He 
visited  in  that  city,  and  in  all  the  others  where  he  stopped, 
the  exposition  of  the  products  of  industry,  encouraging 
manufacturers  by  his  advice,  and  favoring  them  in  his 
decrees.  At  Liege,  he  put  at  the  disposal  of  the  prefect 
of  the  Ourthe  the  sum  of  three  hundred  thousand  francs 
($60,000)  to  repair  the  houses  burned  by  the  Austrians, 
in  that  department,  during  the  early  years  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Antwerp  owes  to  him  the  inner  port,  a  basin,  and 
the  building  of  carpenter-shops.  At  Brussels,  he  ordered 
that  the  Rhine,  the  Meuse,  and  the  Scheldt  should  be  con- 
nected by  a  canal.  He  gave  to  Givet  a  stone  bridge  over 
the  Meuse,  and  at  Sedan  the  widow  Madame  Rousseau 
received  from  him  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  francs 
($12,000)  for  the  re-establishment  of  the  factory  destroyed 
by  fire.  Indeed,  I  cannot  begin  to  enumerate  all  the  bene- 
fits, both  public  and  private,  which  the  First  Consul  and 
Madame  Bonaparte  scattered  along  their  route. 

A  little  while  after  our  return  to  Saint^Cloud,  the  First 
Consul,  while  riding  in  the  park  with  his  wife  and  Cam- 
baceres,  took  a  fancy  to  drive  the  four  horses  attached  to 
the  carriage  which  had  been  given  him  by  the  inhabitants 
of  Antwerp.  He  took  his  place  on  the  driver's  seat,  and 
took  the  reins  from  the  hands  of  Caesar,  his  coachman, 
who  got  up  behind  the  carriage.  At  that  instant  they 
were  in  the  horse-shoe  alley,  which  leads  to  the  road  of 


NAPOLEON  A  BAD   COACHMAN.  175 

the  Pavilion  Breteuil,  and  of  Ville  d'Avray.  It  is  stated 
in  the  Memorial  of  St.  Helena,  that  the  aide-de-camp,  having 
awkwardly  frightened  the  horses,  made  them  run  away ;  but 
Csesar,  who  related  to  me  in  detail  this  sad  disaster  a  few 
moments  after  the  accident  had  taken  place,  said  not  a 
word  to  me  about  the  aide-de-camp  ;  and,  in  truth,  there 
was  needed,  to  upset  the  coach,  nothing  more  than  the 
awkwardness  of  a  coachman  with  so  little  experience  as  the 
First  Consul.  Besides,  the  horses  were  young  and  spirited, 
and  Csesar  himself  needed  all  his  skill  to  guide  them. 
Not  feeling  his  hand  on  the  reins,  they  set  out  at  a  gallop, 
while  Caesar,  seeing  the  new  direction  they  were  taking  to 
the  right,  cried  out,  "To  the  left,"  in  a  stentorian  voice. 
Consul  Cambaceres,  even  paler  than  usual,  gave  himself 
little  concern  as  to  reassuring  Madame  Bonaparte,  who  was 
much  alarmed,  but  screamed  with  all  his  might,  "  Stop ! 
stop  !  you  will  break  all  our  necks  !  "  That  might  well 
happen,  for  the  First  Consul  heard  nothing,  and,  besides, 
could  not  control  the  horses ;  and  when  he  reached,  or  rather 
was  carried  with  the  speed  of  lightning  to,  the  very  gate,  he 
was  not  able  to  keep  in  the  road,  but  ran  against  a  post, 
where  the  carriage  fell  over  heavily,  and  fortunately  the 
horses  stopped.  The  First  Consul  was  thrown  about  ten 
steps,  fell  on  his  stomach,  and  fainted  away,  and  did  not 
revive  until  some  one  attempted  to  lift  him  up.  Madame 
Bonaparte  and  the  second  consul  had  only  slight  con- 
tusions ;  but  good  Josephine  had  suffered  horrible  anxiety 
about  her  husband.  However,  although  he  was  badly 
bruised,  he  would  not  be  bled,  and  satisfied  himself  with  a 
few  rubbings  with  eau  de  Cologne,  his  favorite  remedy. 
That  evening,  on  retiring,  he  spoke  gayly  of  his  misadven- 


176  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ture,  and  of  the  great  fright  that  his  colleague  had  shown, 
and  ended  by  saying,  "  We  must  render  unto  Caesar  that 
which  is  Caesar's ;  let  him  keep  his  whip,  and  let  us  each 
mind  his  own  business." 

He  admitted,  however,  notwithstanding  all  his  jokes, 
that  he  had  never  thought  himself  so  near  death,  and  that 
he  felt  as  if  he  had  been  dead  for  a  few  seconds.  I  do  not 
remember  whether  it  was  on  this  or  another  occasion  that  I 
heard  the  Emperor  say,  that  "  death  was  only  a  sleep  with- 
out dreams." 

In  the  month  of  October  of  this  year,  the  First  Consul 
received  in  public  audience  Haled-Effendi,  the  ambassador 
of  the  Ottoman  Porte. 

The  arrival  of  the  Turkish  ambassador  created  a  sensa- 
tion at  the  Tuileries,  because  he  brought  a  large  number  of 
cashmere  shawls  to  the  First  Consul,  which  every  one  was 
sure  would  be  distributed,  and  each  woman  flattered  her- 
self that  she  would  be  favorably  noticed.  I  think  that, 
without  his  foreign  costume,  and  without  his  cashmere 
shawls,  he  would  have  produced  little  effect  on  persons 
accustomed  to  seeing  sovereign  princes  pay  court  to  the 
chief  of  the  government  at  his  residence  and  at  their  own. 
His  costume  even  was  not  more  remarkable  than  that  of 
Roustan,  to  which  we  were  accustomed ;  and  as  to  his  bows, 
they  were  hardly  lower  than  those  of  the  ordinary  courtiers 
of  the  First  Consul.  At  Paris,  it  is  said,  the  enthusiasm 
lasted  longer  —  "  It  is  so  odd  to  be  a  Turk !"  A  few  ladies 
had  the  honor  of  seeing  the  bearded  ambassador  eat.  He 
was  polite  and  even  gallant  with  them,  and  made  them  a 
few  presents,  which  were  highly  prized ;  his  manners  were 
not  too  Mohammedan,  and  he  was  not  much  shocked  at  see,- 


THE    TURKISH  AMBASSADOR.  177 

ing  our  pretty  Parisians  without  veils  over  their  faces.  One 
day,  which  he  had  spent  almost  entirely  at  Saint-Cloud,  I 
saw  him  go  through  his  prayers.  It  was  in  the  court  of 
honor,  on  a  broad  parapet  bordered  with  a  stone  balustrade. 
The  ambassador  had  carpets  spread  on  the  side  of  the  apart- 
ments, which  were  afterwards  those  of  the  King  of  Rome ; 
and  there  he  made  his  genuflexions,  under  the  eyes  of 
many  people  of  the  house,  who,  out  of  consideration,  kept 
themselves  behind  their  casements.  In  the  evening  he  was 
present  at  the  theater,  and  Zaire  or  Mahomet,  I  think,  was 
played;  but  of  course  he  understood  none  of  it. 


178  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

Another  journey  to  Boulogne.  — Visit  to  the  flotilla,  and  review  of  the  troops. 

—  Jealousy  between  the  Line  and  the  Guard. — The  First  Consul  in 
camp.  —  Tne  General's  anger  against  the  soldiers.  —  Ennui  of  the  offi- 
cers, and  pleasures  of  the  camp.  —  Timidity  of  the  ladies  of  Boulogne.  — 
Jealous  husbands.  —  Visits  of  the  ladies  of  Paris,  Abbeville,  Dunkirk, 
and  Amiens  to  the  camp  of  Boulogne.  —  Evenings  at  the  house  of  the 
mistress  of  Colonel  Joseph  Bonaparte.  —  Generals  Soult,  Saint-Hilaire, 
and  Andreossy.  —  An  intriguing  woman  and  two  happy  lovers.  —  Curios- 
ity of  the  First  Consul.  — The  First  Consul  taken  for  a  commissary  of 
war.  —  Commencement  of  favor  shown  to  General  Bertraud.  —  Superin- 
tendent Arcambal  and  the  two  visitors.  —  The  First  Consul  spying  upon 
his  brother,  who  pretends  not  to  recognize  him.  — The  First  Consul  and 
innocent  sports.  —  He  has  nothing  to  give  as  a  pledge.  —  Billet-doux  of 
the  First  Consul.  —  Naval  combat.  —  The  First  Consul  commands  a 
movement,  and  makes  a  mistake.  —  The  mistake  becomes  evident,  and 
the  general's  silence. — The  First  Consul  aims  the  cannon,  and  has  the 
balls  heated.  —  Fight  between  two  Picards.  —  Continual  roar  of  artillery. 

—  Dining  to  the  sound  of  cannon. — English  frigate  dismantled,  and  a 
brig  sunk. 

IN  the  month  of  November  of  this  year,  the  First  Con- 
sul returned  to  Boulogne  to  visit  the  fleet,  and  to  review 
the  troops  who  were  already  assembled  in  the  camps  pro- 
vided for  the  army  with  which  he  proposed  to  descend  on 
England.  I  have  preserved  a  few  notes  and  many  recol- 
lections of  my  different  sojourns  at  Boulogne.  Never  did 
the  Emperor  make  a  grander  display  of  military  power;  nor 
has  there  ever  been  collected  at  one  point  troops  better  dis- 
ciplined or  more  ready  to  march  at  the  least  signal  of  their 
chief}  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  I  should  have  retained 
in  my  recollections  of  this  period  details  which  no  one  has 


REVIEW  OF  THE  TROOPS.  179 

yet,  I  think,  thought  of  publishing.  Neither,  if  I  am  not 
mistaken,  could  any  one  be  in  a  better  position  than  I  to 
know  them.  However,  the  reader  will  now  judge  for  him- 
self. 

In  the  different  reviews  which  the  First  Consul  held,  he 
seemed  striving  to  excite  the  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiers, 
and  to  increase  their  attachment  for  his  person,  by  assidu- 
ously taking  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to  excite  their 
vanity. 

One  day,  having  especially  noticed  the  excellent  bearing 
of  the  Thirty-sixth  and  Fifty-seventh  regiments  of  the  line, 
and  Tenth  of  light  infantry,  he  made  all  the  officers,  from 
corporal  to  colonel,  come  forward ;  and,  placing  himself  in 
their  midst,  evinced  his  satisfaction  by  recalling  to  them 
occasions  when,  in  the  past  under  the  fire  of  cannon,  he 
had  remarked  the  bearing  of  these  three  brave  regiments. 
He  complimented  the  sub-officers  on  the  good  drilling  of 
the  soldiers,  and  the  captains  and  chiefs  of  battalion  on  the 
harmony  and  precision  of  their  evolutions.  In  fine,  each 
had  his  share  of  praise. 

This  flattering  distinction  did  not  excite  the  jealousy  of 
the  other  corps  of  the  army,  for  each  regiment  had  on  that 
day  its  own  share  of  compliments,  whether  small  or  great ; 
and  when  the  review  was  over,  they  went  quietly  back  to 
their  quarters.  But  the  soldiers  of  the  Thirty-sixth,  Fifty- 
seventh,  and  Tenth,  much  elated  by  having  been  so  specially 
favored,  went  in  the  afternoon  to  drink  to  their  triumph  in 
a  public  house  frequented  by  the  grenadiers  of  the  cavalry 
of  the  Guard.  They  began  to  drink  quietly,  speaking  of 
campaigns,  of  cities  taken,  of  the  First  Consul,  and  finally 
of  that  morning's  review.  It  then  occurred  to  the  young 


180  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

men  of  Boulogne,  who  were  among  the  drinkers,  to  sing 
couplets  of  very  recent  composition,  in  which  were  extolled 
to  the  clouds  the  bravery  and  the  exploits  of  the  three  regi- 
ments, without  one  word  of  praise  for  the  rest  of  the  army, 
not  even  for  the  Guard ;  and  it  was  in  the  favorite  resort 
of  the  grenadiers  of  the  Guard  that  these  couplets  were 
sung !  These  latter  maintained  at  first  a  gloomy  silence  ; 
but  soon  finding  it  unendurable,  they  protested  loudly 
against  these  couplets,  which  they  said  were  detestable. 
The  quarrel  became  very  bitter;  they  shouted,  heaped 
insults  on  each  other,  taking  care  not  to  make  too  much 
noise,  however,  and  appointed  a  meeting  for  the  next  day, 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  the  suburbs  of  Marquise, 
a  little  village  about  two  leagues  from  Boulogne.  It  was 
very  late  in  the  evening  when  these  soldiers  left  the  pub- 
lic house. 

More  than  two  hundred  grenadiers  of  the  Guard  went 
separately  to  the  place  of  meeting,  and  found  the  ground 
occupied  by  an  almost  equal  number  of  their  adversaries 
of  the  Thirty-sixth,  Fifty-seventh,  and  Tenth.  Wasting  no 
time  in  explanations,  hardly  a  sound  being  heard,  each 
soldier  drew  his  sword,  and  for  more  than  an  hour  they 
fought  in  a  cool,  deliberate  manner  which  was  frightful  to 
behold.  A  man  named  Martin,  grenadier  of  the  Guard, 
and  of  gigantic  stature,  killed  with  his  own  hand  seven  or 
eight  soldiers  of  the  Tenth.  They  would  probably  have 
continued  till  all  were  massacred  if  General  Saint-Hilaire,1 
informed  too  late  of  this  bloody  quarrel,  had  not  sent  out 
in  all  haste  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  who  put  an  end  to  the 

1  Louis  Joseph  Saint-Hilaire,  born  at  Ribemont  (Picardy),  1766,  died  of  a 
wound  received  at  Essling,  1809.  —  TRANS. 


THE  OFFICERS  TIRE  OF  BOULOGNE.  181 

combat.  The  grenadiers  had  lost  two  men,  and  the  sol- 
diers of  the  line  thirteen,  with  a  large  number  of  wounded 
on  both  sides. 

The  First  Consul  visited  the  camp  next  day,  and  had 
brought  before  him  those  who  had  caused  this  terrible 
scene,  and  said  to  them  in  a  severe  tone :  "  I  know  why 
you  fought  each  other ;  many  brave  men  have  fallen  in  a 
struggle  unworthy  of  them  and  of  you.  You  shall  be 
punished.  I  have  given  orders  that  the  verses  which  have 
been  the  cause  of  so  much  trouble  shall  be  printed.  I  hope 
that,  in  learning  your  punishment,  the  ladies  of  Boulogne 
will  know  that  you  have  deserved  the  blame  of  your  com- 
rades in  arms." 

However,  the  troops,  and  above  all  the  officers,  began 
to  grow  weary  of  their  sojourn  at  Boulogne,  a  town  less 
likely,  perhaps,  than  any  other  to  render  such  an  inactive 
existence  endurable.  They  did  not  murmur,  however, 
because  never  where  the  First  Consul  was  did  murmuring 
find  a  place ;  but  they  fumed  nevertheless  under  their 
breath  at  seeing  themselves  held  in  camp  or  in  fort,  with 
England  just  in  sight,  only  nine  or  ten  leagues  distant. 
Pleasures  were  rare  at  Boulogne ;  the  women,  generally 
pretty,  but  extremely  timid,  did  not  dare  to  hold  recep- 
tions at  their  own  houses,  for  fear  of  displeasing  their 
husbands,  very  jealous  men,  as  are  all  those  of  Picardy. 
There  was,  however,  a  handsome  hall  in  which  balls  and 
soirees  could  easily  have  been  given ;  but,  although  very 
anxious  to  do  this,  these  ladies  dared  not  make  use  of  it. 
At  last  a  considerable  number  of  Parisian  beauties,  touched 
by  the  sad  fate  of  so  many  brave  and  handsome  officers, 
came  to  Boulogne  to  charm  away  the  ennui  of  so  long 


182  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

a  peace.  The  example  of  the  Parisian  women  piqued 
those  of  Abbeville,  Dunkirk,  Amiens ;  and  soon  Boulogne 
was  filled  with  strangers,  male  and  female,  who  came  to 
do  the  honors  of  the  city.  Among  all  these  ladies  the 
one  most  conspicuous  for  style,  intellect,  and  beauty  was 
a  Dunkirk  lady,  named  Madame  F—  — ,  an  excellent  musi- 
cian, full  of  gayety,  grace,  and  youth ;  it  was  impossible 

for   Madame    F not   to    turn   many   heads.     Colonel 

Joseph,1  brother  of  the  First  Consul,  General  Soult,  who 
was  afterwards  Marshal,  Generals  Saint-Hilaire  and  Andre- 
ossy,2  and  a  few  other  great  personages,  were  at  her  feet ; 
though  two  alone,  it  is  said,  succeeded  in  gaining  her  affec- 
tions, and  of  those  two,  one  was  Colonel  Joseph,  who  soon 
had  the  reputation  of  being  the  preferred  lover  of  Madame 

F .     The    beautiful   lady   from   Dunkirk   often   gave 

soirees,  at  which  Colonel  Joseph  never  failed  to  be  pres- 
ent. Among  all  his  rivals,  and  certainly  they  were  very 
numerous,  one  alone  bore  him  ill-will ;  this  was  the  gene- 
ral-in-chief,  Soult.  This  rivalry  did  no  injury  to  the  inter- 
ests of  Madame  F ;  but  like  a  skillful  tactician,  she 

adroitly  provoked  the  jealousy  of  her  two  suitors,  while 
accepting  from  each  of  them  compliments,  bouquets,  and 
more  than  that  sometimes. 

1  Joseph  Bonaparte,  oldest  brother  of  the  Emperor,  was  horn  at  Corte,  in 
Corsica,  Jan.  7,  1768.    He  and  Bernadotte  married  sisters.    Negotiated  the 
treaties  of  Luneville,  1801,  and  Amiens,  1802.    Made  King  of  Naples,  1806, 
and  King  of  Spain,  1808.    After  Waterloo  he  resided  several  years  at  Borden- 
town,  New  Jersey,  under  the  title  of  Count  Survilliers.    Died  in  Florence, 
1844. 

2  Antoine  Francois  Andreossy,  distinguished  general  and  engineer,  born 
in  Languedoc,  at  Castelnaudary,  in  1761.  Served  in  Italian  campaigns,  1796  and 
1797,  and  in  Egypt.    Was  chief  of  staff  to  Bonaparte,  18th  Brumaire.     Suc- 
cessively minister  to  London,  Vienna,  and  Constantinople.    Wrote  several 
works.    Died  1828. 


NAPOLEON   WATCHES  JOSEPH.  183 

The  First  Consul,  informed  of  the  amours  of  his  brother, 
concluded  one  evening  to  go  and  make  himself  merry  in 

the  little  salon  of  Madame  F ,  who  was  very  plainly 

domesticated  in  a  room  on  the  first  floor  in  the  house  of  a 
joiner,  in  the  Rue  des  Minhnes.  In  order  not  to  be  recog- 
nized, he  was  dressed  as  a  citizen,  and  wore  a  wig  and  spec- 
tacles. He  took  into  his  confidence  General  Bertrand,1 
who  was  already  in  great  favor  with  him,  and  who  did  all 
in  his  power  to  render  his  disguise  complete. 

Thus  disguised,  the  First  Consul  and  his  companion 

presented  themselves  at  Madame  F 's,  and  asked  for 

Monsieur  the  Superintendent  Arcambal.  The  most  perfect 
incognito  was  impressed  on  Arcambal  by  the  First  Consul, 
who  would  not  for  all  the  world  have  been  recognized ; 
and  M.  Arcambal  promising  to  keep  the  secret,  the  two 
visitors  were  announced  under  the  title  of  commissaries 
of  war. 

They  were  playing  bouillotte ;  gold  covered  the  tables, 
and  the  game  and  punch  absorbed  the  attention  of  the 
happy  inmates  to  such  a  degree,  that  none  of  them  took 
note  of  the  persons  who  had  just  entered.  As  for  the  mis- 
tress of  the  lodging,  she  had  never  seen  the  First  Consul 
except  at  a  distance,  nor  General  Bertrand ;  consequently, 
there  was  nothing  to  be  feared  from  her.  I  myself  think 
that  Colonel  Joseph  recognized  his  brother,  but  he  gave  no 
evidence  of  this. 

The  First  Consul,  avoiding  as  best  he  could  all  glances, 

1  Count  Henry  G ration  Bertrand,  bom  at  Chateauroux  in  1773.  Served  in 
Egypt,  Austria,  and  Russia,  and  accompanied  Napoleon  to  Elba  and  St. 
Helena,  and  was  with  him  till  his  death.  He  had  been  made  grand  marshal 
of  the  palace  on  the  death  of  Duroc,  1813.  He  is  interred  in  the  Invalides, 
by  the  side  of  the  Emperor. 


184  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

spied  those  of  his  brother  and  of  Madame  F .  Think- 
ing signals  were  passing  between  them,  he  was  preparing 
to  quit  the  salon  of  the  pretty  Dunkirkess,  when  she,  very 
anxious  that  the  number  of  her  guests  should  not  yet  be 
diminished,  ran  to  the  two  false  commissaries  of  war,  and 
detained  them  gracefully,  saying  that  all  were  going  to  play 
forfeits,  and  they  must  not  go  away  without  having  given 
pledges.  The  First  Consul  having  first  consulted  General 
Bertrand  by  a  glance,  found  it  agreeable  to  remain  and 
play  those  innocent  games. 

Indeed,  at  the  end  of  a  few  moments,  at  the  request  of 

Madame  F ,  the  players  deserted  the  bouillotte,  and 

placed  themselves  in  a  circle  around  her.  They  began  by 
dancing  the  Boulangere ;  then  the  young  innocents  kept  the 
ball  in  motion.  The  turn  of  the  First  Consul  came  to  give 
a  forfeit.  He  was  at  first  very  much  embarrassed,  having 
with  him  only  a  piece  of  paper,  on  which  he  had  written 
the  names  of  a  few  colonels ;  he  gave,  however,  this  paper 
to  Madame  F ,  begging  her  not  to  open  it. 

The  wish  of  the  First  Consul  was  respected,  and  the 
paper  remained  folded  on  the  lap  of  the  beautiful  woman 
until  the  time  came  to  redeem  the  forfeits.  Then  the 
queer  penalty  was  imposed  on  the  great  captain  of  making 

him  doorkeeper,  while  Madame  F -,  with  Colonel  Joseph, 

made  the  voyage  a  Cythere  in  a  neighboring  room.  The 
First  Consul  acquitted  himself  with  a  good  grace  of  the 
role  given  him ;  and  after  the  forfeits  had  been  redeemed, 
made  a  sign  to  General  Bertrand  to  follow  him,  and  they 
went  out.  The  joiner  who  lived  on  the  ground  floor 
soon  came  up  to  bring  a  little  note  to  Madame  F—  — . 
This  was  the  note:  — 


UAVOUST. 


NAVAL   COMBAT  AT  BOULOGNE.  185 

I  thank  you,  Madame,  for  the  kind  welcome  you  have  given  me. 
If  you  will  come  some  day  to  my  barracks,  I  will  act  as  doorkeeper, 
if  it  seems  good  to  you  ;  but  on  that  occasion  I  will  resign  to  no  other 
the  pleasure  of  accompanying  you  in  the  voyage  a  Cyth&re. 

(Signed)  BONAPARTE. 

The  pretty  woman  did  not  read  the  note  aloud ;  neither 
did  she  allow  the  givers  of  forfeits  to  remain  in  ignorance 
that  she  had  received  a  visit  from  the  First  Consul.  At  the 
end  of  an  hour  the  company  dispersed,  and  Madame  F— 
remained  alone,  reflecting  on  the  visit  and  the  note  of  the 
great  man. 

It  was  during  this  same  visit  that  there  occurred  a 
terrible  combat  in  the  roadstead  of  Boulogne  to  secure  the 
entrance  into  the  port  of  a  flotilla  composed  of  twenty  or 
thirty  vessels,  which  came  from  Ostend,  from  Dunkirk,  and 
from  Nieuport,  loaded  with  arms  for  the  national  fleet. 

A  magnificent  frigate,  carrying  thirty-six  pounders,  a 
cutter,  and  a  brig,  detached  themselves  from  the  English 
fleet,  in  order  to  intercept  the  route  of  the  Dutch  flotilla ; 
but  they  were  received  in  a  manner  which  took  away  all 
desire  to  return. 

The  port  of  Boulogne  was  defended  by  five  forts ;  the 
Fort  de  la  Creche,  the  Fort  en  Bois,  Fort  Musoir,  Castle 
Croi,  and  the  Castle  d'Ordre,  all  fortified  with  large  num- 
bers of  cannon  and  howitzers.  The  line  of  vessels  which 
barred  the  entrance  was  composed  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
gunboats  and  other  vessels ;  the  division  of  imperial  gun- 
boats formed  a  part  of  this. 

Each  sloop  bore  three  pieces  of  cannon,  twenty-four 
pounders,  —  two  pieces  for  pursuit,  and  one  for  retreat ;  and 
five  hundred  mouths  of  fire  were  thus  opened  on  the  enemy, 


186  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

independently  of  all  the  batteries  of  the  forts,  every 
cannon  being  fired  more  than  three  times  a  minute. 

The  combat  began  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The 
weather  was  beautiful.  At  the  first  report  of  the  cannon 
the  First  Consul  left  the  headquarters  at  the  Pont  de 
Brique,  and  came  at  a  gallop,  followed  by  his  staff,  to 
give  orders  to  Admiral  Bruix ;  but  soon  wishing  to  examine 
for  himself  the  operations  of  the  defense,  and  to  share  in 
directing  them,  he  threw  himself,  followed  by  the  admiral 
and  a  few  officers,  into  a  launch  which  was  rowed  by  sailors 
of  the  Guard.  Thus  the  First  Consul  was  borne  into  the 
midst  of  the  vessels  which  formed  the  line  of  defense, 
through  a  thousand  dangers,  amid  a  tempest  of  shells, 
bombs,  and  cannon-balls.  With  the  intention  of  landing  at 
Winiereux,  after  having  passed  along  the  line,  he  ordered 
them  to  steer  for  the  castle  of  Croi,  saying  that  he  must 
double  it.  Admiral  Bruix,  alarmed  at  the  danger  he  was 
about  to  incur,  in  vain  represented  to  the  First  Consul  the 
imprudence  of  doing  this.  "What  shall  we  gain,"  said 
he,  "by  doubling  this  fort?  Nothing,  except  to  expose 
ourselves  to  the  cannon-balls.  General,  by  flanking  it  we 
will  arrive  as  soon."  The  First  Consul  was  not  of  the 
admiral's  opinion,  and  insisted  on  doubling  the  fort.  The 
admiral,  at  the  risk  of  being  reprimanded,  gave  contrary 
orders  to  the  sailors  ;  and  the  First  Consul  saw  himself 
obliged  to  pass  behind  the  fort,  though  much  irritated  and 
reproaching  the  admiral. 

This  soon  ceased,  however ;  for,  hardly  had  the  launch 
passed,  when  a  transport,  which  had  doubled  the  castle 
of  Croi,  was  crashed -into  and  sunk  by  three  or  four  shells. 

The  First  Consul  became  silent,  on  seeing  how  correct 


NAPOLEON  AND  ADMIRAL   BRUIX  187 

the  admiral's  judgment  had  been ;  and  the  rest  of  the 
journey,  as  far  as  the  little  port  of  Wimereux,  was  made 
without  hindrance  from  him.  Arriving  there,  he  climbed 
upon  the  cliff  to  encourage  the  cannoneers,  spoke  to  all 
of  them,  patted  them  on  the  shoulder,  and  urged  them 
to  aim  well.  "Courage,  my  friends,"  said  he,  "remember 
you  are  not  fighting  fellows  who  will  hold  out  a  long  time. 
Drive  them  back  with  the  honors  of  war."  And  noticing 
the  fine  resistance  and  majestic  maneuvers  of  a  frigate,  he 
asked,  "  Can  you  believe,  my  children,  that  captain  is  Eng- 
lish ?  I  do  not  think  so." 

The  artillerymen,  animated  by  the  words  of  the  First 
Consul,  redoubled  their  zeal  and  the  rapidity  of  their  fire. 
One  of  them  said,  "Look  at  the  frigate,  General;  her 
bowsprit  is  going  to  fall."  He  spoke  truly,  the  bowsprit 
was  cut  in  two  by  his  ball.  "  Give  twenty  francs  to  that 
brave  man,"  said  the  First  Consul  to  the  officers  who  were 
with  him.  Near  the  batteries  of  Wimereux  there  was  a  fur- 
nace to  heat  the  cannon-balls ;  and  the  First  Consul  noticed 
them  operating  the  furnaces,  and  gave  instructions.  "  That 
is  not  red  enough,  boys ;  they  must  be  sent  redder  than  that, 
come,  come."  One  of  them  had  known  him,  when  a  lieu- 
tenant of  artillery,  and  said  to  his  comrades,  "He  under- 
stands these  little  matters  perfectly,  as  well  as  greater  ones, 
you  see." 

That  day  two  soldiers  without  arms  were  on  the  cliff 
noticing  the  maneuvers.  They  began  a  quarrel  in  this 
singular  manner.  "  Look,"  said  one,  "  do  you  see  the  Little 
Corporal  down  there?"  (they  were  both  Picards).  "No; 
I  don't  see  him."  —  "  Do  you  not  see  him  in  his  launch  ?  " 
— "  Oh,  yes,  now  I  do ;  but  surely  he  does  not  reineni- 


188  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ber,  that  if  anything  should  strike  him,  it  would  make  the 
whole  army  weep  —  why  does  he  expose  himself  like  that?  " 
-  "  Indeed,  it  is  his  place  ! "  -  "  No,  it's  not " —  "  It  is  " 
"  It  isn't.  Look  here,  what  would  you  do  to-morrow  if 
the  Little  Corporal  was  killed  ?  "  —  "  But  I  tell  you  it  is  his 
place ! "  And  having  no  other  argument  on  either  side, 
they  commenced  to  fight  with  their  fists.  They  were  sepa- 
rated with  much  difficulty. 

The  battle  had  commenced  at  one  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  Dutch  flotilla 
entered  the  port  under  the  most  terrible  fire  that  I  have 
ever  witnessed.  In  the  darkness  the  bombs,  wliich  crossed 
each  other  in  every  direction,  formed  above  the  port  and 
the  town  a  vault  of  fire,  while  the  constant  discharge  of  all 
this  artillery  was  repeated  by  echoes  from  the  cliffs,  mak- 
ing a  frightful  din;  and,  a  most  singular  fact,  no  one  in 
the  city  was  alarmed.  The  people  of  Boulogne  had  be- 
come accustomed  to  danger,  and  expected  something  ter- 
rible each  day.  They  had  constantly  going  on,  under  their 
eyes,  preparations  for  attack  or  defense,  and  had  become 
soldiers  by  dint  of  seeing  tliis  so  constantly.  On  that  day 
the  noise  of  cannon  was  heard  at  dinner-time ;  and  still 
every  one  dined,  the  hour  for  the  repast  being  neither 
advanced  nor  delayed.  Men  went  about  their  business, 
women  -  occupied  themselves  with  household  affairs,  young 
girls  played  the  piano,  all  saw  with  indifference  the  cannon- 
balls  pass  over  their  heads ;  and  the  curious,  whom  a  desire 
to  witness  the  combat  had  attracted  to  the  cliffs,  showed 
hardly  any  more  emotion  than  is  ordinarily  the  case  on 
seeing  a  military  piece  played  at  Franconi's. 

I  still  ask  myself  how  three  vessels  could  have  endured 


RESULT  OF  TILE  NAVAL    COMBAT.  189 

for  nine  hours  so  violent  a  shock;  for  when  at  length  the 
flotilla  entered  the  fort,  the  English  cutter  had  foundered, 
the  brig  had  been  burnt  by  the  red-hot  cannon-balls,  and 
there  was  left  only  the  frigate,  with  her  masts  shivered  and 
her  sails  torn,  but  she  still  remained  there  immovable  as 
a  rock,  and  so  near  to  our  line  of  defense  that  the  sailors 
on  either  side  could  be  seen  and  counted.  Behind  her,  at 
a  modest  distance,  were  more  than  a  hundred  English  ships. 
At  length,  after  ten  o'clock,  a  signal  from  the  English 
admiral  caused  the  frigate  to  withdraw,  and  the  firing 
ceased.  Our  line  of  ships  was  not  greatly  damaged  in  this 
long  and  terrible  combat,  because  the  broadsides  from  the 
frigate  simply  cut  into  our  rigging,  and  did  not  enter  the 
body  of  our  vessels.  The  brig  and  the  cutter,  however,  did 
more  harm. 


190  liECOLLECTIONti   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Return  of  the  First  Consul  to  Paris.  —  Arrival  of  Prince  Camille  Borghese.  — 
Pauline  Bonaparte  and  her  first  husband,  General  Leclerc.  —  His  love 
for  his  wife.  — Description  of  General  Leclerc.  — His  departure  for  San 
Domingo. — The  First  Consul  orders  his  sister  to  go  with  her  husband. 
—  Revolt  of  Christophe  and  of  Dessalines.  — Arrival  of  the  general  and 
his  wife  at  the  Cape.  —  Courage  of  Madame  Leclerc.  —  Insurrection  of 
the  blacks.  —  The  remnant  of  the  army  of  Brest  and  twelve  thousand 
revolted  negroes.  —  Heroic  courage  of  the  general-in-chief ,  attacked  by 
a  mortal  disease. — Nobility  and  intrepidity.  —  Pauline  saves  her  son. — 
Death  of  General  Leclerc. — Marriage  of  Pauline.  —  Chagrin  of  Lafon, 
and  remark  of  Mademoiselle  Duchesnois.  —  Jules  de  Canouville  and 
the  Princess  Borghese.  —  Disgrace  of  the  princess  with  the  Emperor.  — 
Generosity  of  the  princess  towards  her  brother.  —  The  only  friend  remain- 
ing to  him. — The  diamonds  of  the  princess  in  the  Emperor's  carriage  at 
Waterloo. 

THE  First  Consul  left  Boulogne  to  return  to  Paris, 
in  order  to  be  present  at  the  marriage  of  one  of  his  sisters. 
Prince  Camille  Borghese,1  descendant  of  the  noblest  family 
of  Rome,  had  already  arrived  at  Paris  to  marry  Madame 
Pauline  Bonaparte,2  widow  of  General  Leclerc,3  who  had 

1  Camille  Borghese,  Prince  of  Sulmono,  born  at  Rome,  1775  ;  died  at 
Florence,  1832.    Under  the  Empire  he  was  charged  with  the  government  of 
Piedmont.    He  was  a  man  of  feeble  character,  and  soon  separated  from  his 
wife.  —  TRANS. 

2  Pauline  Bonaparte,  the  favorite  sister  of  Napoleon,  born  1780.    Married 
first,  General  Leclerc;  secondly  (1803),  Prince  Borghese.    She  was  of  remark- 
able beauty.    Died  1825.  —  TRANS. 

8  Victor  Emmanuel  Leclerc,  born  at  Pontoise,  1772 ;  served  with  Bona- 
parte at  Toulon  and  in  the  Italian  campaign,  in  Egypt,  and  aided  in  the  18th 
Brumaire.  Soon  afterwards  he  married  Pauline  Bonaparte,  and  was  sent  to 
San  Domingo  at  the  head  of  35,000  men.  He  sent  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  as 
a  prisoner  to  France.  Leclerc  died  of  yellow  fever,  1802.  —  TRANS. 


GENERAL  LECLERC.  191 

died  of  yellow  fever  in  San  Domingo.  I  recollect  having 
seen  this  unfortunate  general  at  the  residence  of  the  First 
Consul  some  time  before  his  departure  on  the  ill-starred 
expedition  which  cost  him  his  life,  and  France  the  loss  of 
many  brave  soldiers  and  much  treasure.  General  Leclerc, 
whose  name  is  now  almost  forgotten,  or  held  in  light  esteem, 
was  a  kind  and  good  man.  He  was  passionately  in  love 
with  his  wife,  whose  giddiness,  to  put  it  mildly,  afflicted 
him  sorely,  and  threw  him  into  a  deep  and  habitual  melan- 
choly painful  to  witness.  Princess  Pauline  (who  was  then 
far  from  being  a  princess)  had  married  him  willingly,  and  of 
her  own  choice ;  but  this  did  not  prevent  her  tormenting 
her  husband  by  her  innumerable  caprices,  and  repeating  to 
him  a  hundred  times  a  day  that  he  was  indeed  a  fortunate 
man  to  marry  the  sister  of  the  First  Consul.  I  am  sure  that 
with  his  simple  tastes  and  quiet  disposition  General  Leclerc 
would  have  preferred  less  distinction  and  more  peace. 

The  First  Consul  required  his  sister  to  accompany  her 
husband  to  San  Domingo.  She  was  forced  to  obey,  and 
to  leave  Paris,  where  she  swayed  the  scepter  of  fashion,  and 
eclipsed  all  other  women  by  her  elegance  and  coquetry,  as 
well  as  by  her  incomparable  beauty,  to  brave  a  dangerous 
climate,  and  the  ferocious  companions  of  Christophe  and 
Dessalines.  At  the  end  of  the  year  1801  the  admiral's 
ship,  The  Ocean,  sailed  from  Brest,  carrying  to  the  Cape 
(San  Domingo)  General  Leclerc,  his  wife,  and  their  son. 

After  her  arrival  at  the  Cape,  the  conduct  of  Madame 
Leclerc  was  beyond  praise.  On  more  than  one  occasion,  but 
especially  that  which  I  shall  now  attempt  to  describe,  she 
displayed  a  courage  worthy  of  her  name  and  the  position  of 
her  husband.  I  obtained  these  details  from  an  eye-witness 


192  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

whom  I  had  known  at  Paris  in  the  service  of  Princess 
Pauline. 

The  day  of  the  great  insurrection  of  the  blacks  in 
September,  1802,  the  bands  of  Christophe  and  Dessalines, 
composed  of  more  than  twelve  thousand  negroes,  exasperated 
by  their  hatred  against  the  whites,  and  the  certainty  that 
if  they  yielded  no  quarter  would  be  given,  made  an  assault 
on  the  town  of  the  Cape,  which  was  defended  by  only  one 
thousand  soldiers ;  for  only  this  small  number  remained  of 
the  large  army  which  had  sailed  from  Brest  a  year  before, 
in  brilliant  spirits  and  full  of  hope.  This  handful  of  brave 
men,  the  most  of  them  weakened  by  fever,  led  by  the  general- 
in-chief  of  the  expedition,  who  was  even  then  suffering  from 
the  malady  which  caused  his  death,  repulsed  by  unheard  of 
efforts  and  heroic  valor  the  repeated  attacks  of  the  blacks. 

During  this  combat,  in  which  the  determination,  if  not 
the  number  and  strength,  was  equal  on  both  sides,  Madame 
Leclerc,  with  her  son,  was  under  the  guard  of  a  devoted 
friend  who  had  subject  to  his  orders  only  a  weak  company 
of  artillery,  which  still  occupied  the  house  where  her  hus- 
band had  fixed  his  residence,  at  the  foot  of  the  low  hills 
which  bordered  the  coast.  The  general-in-chief,  fearing  lest 
this  residence  might  be  surprised  by  a  party  of  the  enemy, 
and  being  unable  to  foresee  the  issue  of  the  struggle  which 
he  was  maintaining  on  the  heights  of  the  Cape,  and  against 
which  the  blacks  made  their  most  furious  assaults,  sent  an 
order  to  convey  his  wife  and  son  on  board  the  fleet. 
Pauline  would  not  consent  to  this.  Always  faithful  to  the 
pride  with  which  her  name  inspired  her  (but  this  time  there 
was  in  her  pride  as  much  greatness  as  nobility),  she  spoke 
to  the  ladies  of  the  city  who  had  taken  refuge  with  her,  and 


HEROISM  OF  MADAME  LECLERC.  193 

begged  them  to  go  away,  giving  them  a  frightful  picture 
of  the  horrible  treatment  to  which  they  would  be  exposed 
should  the  negroes  defeat  the  troops.  "  You  can  leave. 
You  are  not  the  sisters  of  Bonaparte." 

However,  as  the  danger  became  more  pressing  every 
moment,  General  Leclerc  sent  an  aide-de-camp  to  his  resi- 
dence, and  enjoined  on  him,  in  case  Pauline  still  persisted 
in  her  refusal,  to  use  force,  and  convey  her  on  board  against 
her  will.  The  officer  was  obliged  to  execute  this  order  to 
the  letter.  Consequently  Madame  Leclerc  was  forcibly 
placed  in  an  arm-chair  which  was  borne  by  four  soldiers, 
while  a  grenadier  marched  by  her  side,  carrying  in  his  arms 
the  general's  son.  During  this  scene  of  flight  and  terror 
the  child,  already  worthy  of  its  mother,  played  with  the 
plume  of  the  soldier  who  was  carrying  him.  Followed  by 
her  cortege  of  trembling,  tearful  women,  whose  only  source 
of  strength  during  this  perilous  passage  was  in  her  cour- 
age, she  was  thus  conveyed  to  the  seashore.  Just  as  they 
were  going  to  place  her  in  the  sloop,  however,  another  aide- 
de-camp  of  her  husband  brought  news  of  the  defeat  of  the 
blacks.  "  You  see  now,"  said  she,  returning  to  her  resi- 
dence, "  I  was  right  in  not  wishing  to  embark."  She 
was  not  yet  out  of  danger,  however ;  for  a  troop  of  negroes, 
forming  part  of  the  army  which  had  just  been  so  miracu- 
lously repulsed,  in  trying  to  make  good  their  retreat  to 
the  dikes,  met  the  small  escort  of  Madame  Leclerc.  As 
they  appeared  disposed  to  attack,  it  was  necessary  to  scatter 
them  by  shots  at  short  range.  Throughout  this  skirmish 
Pauline  preserved  a  perfect  equanimity. 

All  these  circumstances,  which  reflected  so  much  honor 
on  Madame  Leclerc,  were  reported  to  the  First  Consul, 


194  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

His  self-love  was  flattered  by  it ;  and  I  believe  that  it  was 
to  Prince  Borghese  that  he  said  one  day  at  his  Iev6e,  "  Pau- 
line is  predestined  to  marry  a  Roman,  for  from  head  to  foot 
she  is  every  inch  a  Roman." 

Unfortunately  this  courage,  which  a  man  might  have 
envied,  was  not  united  in  the  Princess  Pauline  with  those 
virtues  which  are  less  brilliant  and  more  modest,  and  also 
more  suitable  for  a  woman,  and  which  we  naturally  expect 
to  find  in  her,  rather  than  boldness  and  contempt  of  danger. 

I  do  not  know  if  it  is  true,  as  has  been  written  some- 
where, that  Madame  Leclerc,  when  she  was  obliged  to  set 
out  for  San  Domingo,  had  a  fancy  for  an  actor  of  the 
Theatre  Frangais.  Nor  am  I  able  to  say  whether  it  is  true 
that  Mademoiselle  Duchesnois  had  the  naivete  to  exclaim 
before  a  hundred  people  in  reference  to  this  departure, 
"Lafon  will  never  be  consoled;  it  will  kill  him!"  but 
what  I  myself  know  of  the  frailty  of  this  princess  leads  me 
to  believe  that  the  anecdote  is  true. 

All  Paris  knew  the  special  favor  with  which  she  hon- 
ored M.  Jules  de  Canouville,1  a  young  and  brilliant  col- 

1  Monsieur  Bousquet  was  called  to  Neuilly  (residence  of  the  Princess 
Pauline)  in  order  to  examine  the  beautiful  teeth  of  her  Imperial  Highness. 
Presented  to  her,  he  prepared  to  begin  work.  "Monsieur,"  said  a  charming 
young  man  in  a  wrapper,  negligently  lying  on  a  sofa,  "  take  care,  I  pray,  what 
you  do.  I  feel  a  great  interest  in  the  teeth  of  my  Paulette,  and  I  hold  you 
responsible  for  any  accident."  — "  Be  tranquil,  my  Prince;  I  can  assure  your 
Imperial  Highness  that  there  is  no  danger."  During  all  the  time  that  Bous- 
quet was  engaged  in  working  on  the  pretty  mouth,  these  recommendations 
continued.  At  length,  having  finished  what  he  had  to  do,  he  passed  into  the 
waiting-room,  where  he  found  assembled  the  ladies  of  the  palace,  the  cham- 
berlains, etc.,  who  were  awaiting  to  enter  the  apartments  of  the  Princess. 

They  hastened  to  ask  Bousquet  news  of  the  princess,  "Her  Imperial 
Highness  is  very  well,  and  must  be  happy  in  the  tender  attachment  her 
august  husband  feels  for  her,  which  he  has  shown  in  my  presence  in  so 
touching  a  manner.  His  anxiety  was  extreme.  It  was  only  with  difficulty  I 


ANECDOTE   OF  PRINCESS  BORGRESE  195 

onel  who  was  handsome  and  brave,  with  a  perfect  figure, 
and  an  assurance  which  was  the  cause  of  his  innumerable 
successes  with  certain  women,  although  he  used  little  dis- 
cretion in  respect  to  them.  The  liaison  of  Princess  Pau- 
line with  this  amiable  officer  was  the  most  lasting  that  she 
ever  formed;  and  as,  unfortunately,  neither  of  them  was 
discreet,  their  mutual  tenderness  acquired  in  a  short  while 
a  scandalous  publicity.  I  shall  take  occasion  later  to 
relate  in  its  proper  place  the  incident  which  caused  the  dis- 
grace, banishment,  and  perhaps  even  the  death,  of  Colonel 
de  Canouville.  A  death  so  premature,  and  above  all  so 
cruel,  since  it  was  not  an  enemy's  bullet  which  struck 
him,1  was  deplored  by  the  whole  army. 

Moreover,  however  great  may  have  been  the  frailty  of 
Princess  Pauline  in  regard  to  her  lovers,  and  although 
most  incredible  instances  of  this  can  be  related  without 
infringing  on  the  truth,  her  admirable  devotion  to  the 
person  of  the  Emperor  in  1814  should  cause  her  faults  to 
be  treated  with  indulgence. 

could  reassure  him  as  to  the  result  of  the  simplest  thing  in  the  world  ;  I  shall 
tell  everywhere  what  I  have  just  witnessed.  It  is  pleasant  to  be  able  to  cite 
such  an  example  of  conjugal  tenderness  in  so  high  a  rank.  I  am  deeply 
impressed  with  it."  They  did  not  try  to  stop  good  M.  Bousquet  in  these 
expressions  of  hi%  enthusiasm.  The  desire  to  laugh  prevented  a  single  word ; 
and  he  left  convinced  that  nowhere  existed  a  better  household  than  that  of 
the  Prince  and  Princess  Borghese.  The  latter  was  in  Italy,  and  the  hand- 
some young  man  was  M.  de  Canouville. 

I  borrow  this  curious  anecdote  from  the  "Memoirs  of  Josephine,"  the 
author  of  which,  who  saw  and  described  the  Court  of  Navarre  and  Malmaison 
with  so  much  truth  and  good  judgment,  is  said  to  be  a  woman,  and  must  be 
in  truth  a  most  intellectual  one,  and  in  a  better  position  than  any  other 
person  to  know  the  private  affairs  of  her  Majesty,  the  Empress.  —  CONSTANT. 

1  He  was  slain  by  a  ball  from  a  French  cannon,  which  was  discharged 
after  the  close  of  an  action  in  which  he  had  shown  the  most  brilliant  courage. 
—  CONSTANT. 


196  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

On  innumerable  occasions  the  effrontery  of  her  con- 
duct, and  especially  her  want  of  regard  and  respect  for 
the  Empress  Marie  Louise,  irritated  the  Emperor  against 
the  Princess  Borghese,  though  he  always  ended  by  pardon- 
ing her;  notwithstanding  which,  at  the  time  of  the  fall  of 
her  august  brother  she  was  again  in  disgrace,  and  being 
informed  that  the  island  of  Elba  had  been  selected  as  a 
prison  for  the  Emperor,  she  hastened  to  shut  herself  up 
there  with  him,  abandoning  Rome  and  Italy,  whose  finest 
palaces  were  hers.  Before  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  his 
Majesty  at  the  critical  moment  found  the  heart  of  his 
sister  Pauline  still  faithful.  Fearing  lest  he  might  be  in 
need  of  money,  she  sent  him  her  handsomest  diamonds,  the 
value  of  which  was  enormous ;  and  they  were  found  in  the 
carriage  of  the  Emperor  when  it  was  captured  at  Water- 
loo, and  exhibited  to  the  curiosity  of  the  inhabitants  of 
London.  But  the  diamonds  have  been  lost;  at  least,  to 
their  lawful  owner. 


ARREST  OF  GENERAL  MOREAU.  197 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Arrest  of  General  Moreau.  —  Constant  sent  as  a  scout.  —  General  Moreau 
married  with  the  aid  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  —  Mile.  Hulot. — Madame 
Hulot's  high  pretensions.  —  Opposition  of  Moreau.  —  His  railleries.  — 
Intrigues  and  conspiracies  of  the  discontented.  —  Evidences  of  friendship 
given  to  Moreau  by  the  First  Consul.  —  What  the  Emperor  said  and  did 
the  day  Moreau's  aides-de-camp  were  arrested.  —  The  companion-in-arms 
of  General  Foy.  —  Carried  off.  —  Excessive  harshness  towards  Colonel 
Delelee.  —  Ruse  of  a  child.  —  Arbitrary  measures. — Inflexibility  of  the 
Emperor.  —  The  deputies  of  Besancon  and  Marshal  Moncey.  —  Panic, 
terror,  and  firmness.  —  The  friends  of  the  court.  —  A  solemn  audience  at 
the  Tuileries.  —  Reception  of  the  Besan9onese.  —  Courageous  reply.  — 
Reparation.  —  Change  of  views.  —  The  former  comrades.  —  Chief  of  staff 
of  the  army  of  Portugal.  —  Premature  death. — Surveillance  exercised 
over  the  people  of  the  Emperor  at  each  new  conspiracy.  —  The  guardian 
of  the  portfolio.  —  Register  of  custodians  of  the  palaces.  —  The  Emperor's 
anger  excited  by  the  name  of  a  suspected  person. 

ON  the  day  of  General  Moreau's 1  arrest  the  First  Con- 
sul was  in  a  state  of  great  excitement.  The  morning  was 
passed  in  interviews  with  his  emissaries,  the  agents  of 
police ;  and  measures  had  been  taken  that  the  arrest  should 
be  made  at  the  specified  hour,  either  at  Gros-Bois,  or  at 
the  general's  house  in  the  street  of  the  Faubourg  Saint- 
Honore.  The  First  Consul  was  anxiously  walking  up  and 

1  Jean  Victor  Moreau,  born  at  Morlaix  in  Brittany,  1763,  son  of  a  prom- 
inent lawyer.  At  one  time  he  rivaled  Bonaparte  in  reputation.  He  was 
general-in-chief  of  the  army  of  the  Rhine,  17%,  and  again  in  1800,  in  which 
latter  year  he  gained  the  battle  of  Hohenlinden.  Implicated  in  the  con- 
spiracy of  Pichegru,  he  was  exiled,  and  went  to  the  United  States.  He  re- 
turned to  Europe  in  1813,  and,  joining  the  allied  armies  against  France,  was 
killed  by  a  cannon-shot  in  the  attack  on  Dresden  in  August  of  that  year. 
—TRANS. 


198  EECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

down  his  chamber,  when  he  sent  for  me,  and  ordered  me 
to  take  position  opposite  General  Moreau's  house  (the  one 
in  Paris),  to  see  whether  the  arrest  had  taken  place,  and 
if  there  was  any  tumult,  and  to  return  promptly  and  make 
my  report.  I  obeyed ;  but  nothing  extraordinary  took  place, 
and  I  saw  only  some  police  spies  walking  along  the  street, 
and  watching  the  door  of  the  house  of  the  man  whom 
they  had  marked  for  their  prey.  Thinking  that  my  pres- 
ence would  probably  be  noticed,  I  retired;  and,  as  I 
learned  while  returning  to  the  chateau  that  General 
Moreau  had  been  arrested  on  the  road  from  his  estate  of 
Gros-Bois,  which  he  sold  a  few  months  later  to  Marshal 
Berthier,  before  leaving  for  the  United  States,  I  quickened 
my  pace,  and  hastened  to  announce  to  the  First  Consul 
the  news  of  the  arrest.  He  knew  this  already,  made  no 
response,  and  still  continued  thoughtful,  and  in  deep 
reflection,  as  in  the  morning. 

Since  I  have  been  led  to  speak  of  General  Moreau,  I 
will  recall  by  what  fatal  circumstances  he  was  led  to 
tarnish  his  glory.  Madame  Bonaparte  had  given  to  him  in 
marriage  Mademoiselle  Hulot,  her  friend,  and,  like  herself, 
a  native  of  the  Isle  of  France.  This  young  lady,  gentle, 
amiable,  and  possessing  those  qualities  which  make  a  good 
wife  and  mother,  loved  her  husband  passionately,  and 
was  proud  of  that  glorious  name  which  surrounded  her 
with  respect  and  honor;  but,  unfortunately,  she  had  the 
greatest  deference  for  her  mother,  whose  ambition  was  great, 
and  who  desired  nothing  short  of  seeing  her  daughter 
seated  upon  a  throne.  The  influence  which  she  exercised 
over  Madame  Moreau  soon  extended  to  the  general  him- 
self, who,  ruled  by  her  counsels,  became  gloomy,  thought- 


CAUSE   OF  GENERAL  MOREAU'S  FALL.  199 

ful,  melancholy,  and  forever  lost  that  tranquillity  of  mind 
which  had  distinguished  him.  From  that  time  the  general's 
house  was  open  to  intrigues  and  conspiracies ;  and  it  was 
the  rendezvous  of  all  the  discontented,  of  which  there  were 
many.  The  general  assumed  the  task  of  disapproving  all 
the  acts  of  the  First  Consul;  he  opposed  the  re-establish- 
ment of  public  worship,  and  criticised  as  childish  and  ridic- 
ulous mummery  the  institution  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 
These  grave  imprudences,  and  indeed  many  others,  came 
to  the  ears  of  the  First  Consul,  who  refused  at  first  to 
believe  them;  but  how  could  he  remain  deaf  to  reports 
which  were  repeated  each  day  with  more  foundation, 
though  doubtless  exaggerated  by  malice? 

In  proportion  as  the  imprudent  speeches  of  the  general 
were  depriving  him  of  the  esteem  of  the  First  Consul,  his 
mother-in-law,  by  a  dangerous  obstinacy,  was  encouraging 
him  in  his  opposition,  persuaded,  she  said,  that  the  future 
would  do  justice  to  the  present.  She  did  not  realize  that 
she  spoke  so  truly ;  and  the  general  rushed  headlong  into 
the  abyss  which  opened  before  him.  How  greatly  his  con- 
duct was  in  opposition  to  his  character !  He  had  a  pro- 
nounced aversion  to  the  English,  and  he  detested  the 
Chouans,  and  everything  pertaining  to  the  old  nobility; 
and  besides,  a  man  like  General  Moreau,  who  had  served 
his  country  so  gloriously,  was  not  the  one  to  bear  arms 
against  her.  But  he  was  deceived,  and  he  deceived  himself, 
in  thinking  that  he  was  fitted  to  play  a  great  political  part; 
and  he  was  destroyed  by  the  flatteries  of  a  party  which 
excited  all  possible  hostility  against  the  First  Consul  by 
taking  advantage  of  the  jealousy  of  his  former  comrades 
in  arms.  I  witnessed  more  than  one  proof  of  affection 


200  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

shown  by  the  First  Consul  to  General  Moreau.  In  the 
course  of  a  visit  of  the  latter  to  the  Tuileries,  and  dur- 
ing an  interview  with  the  First  Consul,  General  Carnot 
arrived  from  Versailles  with  a  pair  of  pistols  of  costly 
workmanship,  which  the  manufactory  of  Versailles  had 
sent  as  a  gift  to  the  First  Consul.  He  took  these  hand- 
some weapons  from  the  hands  of  General  Carnot,  admired 
them  a  moment,  and  immediately  offered  them  to  General 
Moreau,  saying  to  him,  "  Take  them,  truly  they  could  not 
have  come  at  a  better  time."  All  this  was  done  quicker 
than  I  can  write  it ;  the  general  was  highly  flattered  by 
this  proof  of  friendship,  and  thanked  the  First  Consul 
warmly. 

The  name  and  trial  of  General  Moreau  recall  to  me 
the  story  of  a  brave  officer  who  was  compromised  in  this 
unfortunate  affair,  and  who  after  many  years  of  disgrace 
was  pardoned  only  on  account  of  the  courage  with 
which  he  dared  expose  himself  to  the  anger  of  the  Em- 
peror. The  authenticity  of  the  details  which  I  shall 
relate  can  be  attested,  if  necessary,  by  living  persons,1 
whom  I  shall  have  occasion  to  name  in  my  narrative,  and 
whose  testimony  no  reader  would  dream  of  impeacliing. 

The  disgrace  of  General  Moreau  extended  at  first  to  all 
those  who  surrounded  him ;  and  as  the  affection  and  devo- 
tion felt  for  him  by  all  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  had 
served  under  him  was  well  known,  his  aides-de-camp  were 
arrested,  even  those  who  were  not  then  in  Paris.  One  of 
them,  Colonel  Delelee,  had  been  many  months  on  furlough 
at  Besangon,  resting  after  his  campaigns  in  the  bosom  of 
his  family,  and  with  a  young  wife  whom  he  had  recently 

1  Living  in  1830,  when  Constant  wrote.  —  TRANS. 


COLONEL  DELE  LEE.  201 

married.  Besides,  he  was  at  that  time  concerning  himself 
very  little  with  political  matters,  very  much  with  his  pleas- 
ures, and  not  at  all  with  conspiracies.  Comrade  and 
brother  in  arms  of  Colonels  Guilleminot,1  Hugo,2  Foy,3 
— all  three  of  whom  became  generals  afterwards,  —  he 
was  spending  his  evenings  gayly  with  them  at  the  garrison, 
or  in  the  quiet  pleasures  of  his  family  circle.  Suddenly 
Colonel  Delelee  was  arrested,  placed  in  a  postchaise,  and  it 
was  not  until  he  was  rolling  along  in  a  gallop  on  the  road 
to  Paris,  that  he  learned  from  the  officer  of  the  gendarmes 
who  accompanied  him,  that  General  Moreau  had  conspired, 
and  that  in  his  quality  as  aide-de-camp  he  was  counted 
among  the  conspirators. 

Arrived  at  Paris,  the  colonel  was  put  in  close  confine- 
ment, in  La  Force  I  believe.  His  wife,  much  alarmed, 
followed  his  footsteps  ;  but  it  was  several  days  before  she 
obtained  permission  to  communicate  with  the  prisoner, 
and  then  could  do  so  only  by  signs  from  the  court- 
yard of  the  prison  while  he  showed  himself,  for  a  few 
moments,  and  put  his  hands  through  the  bars  of  the 
window.  However,  the  rigor  of  these  orders  was  relaxed 

1  Comte  Armand  Charles  Guilleminot,  born  at  Dunkirk,  1774,  served 
under  Moreau  on  the  Rhine  and  in  Italy ;  was  in  Russian  campaign.    Gene- 
ral of  division,  1813 ;  minister  to  Turkey,  1824 ;  died  1840.  —  TRANS. 

2  Father  of  Victor  Hugo,  who  is  himself  the  god-son  of  Madame  Delele"e. 
—  CONSTANT. 

General  Hugo  was  marshal  of  the  palace  of  Joseph  Bonaparte,  at  Naples ; 
afterwards  served  in  Spain  under  him,  and  became  general  of  division.  He 
was  born  at  Nancy,  1774 ;  died  1828.  —  TRANS. 

8  The  illustrious  General  Foy.  —  CONSTANT. 

Maxiniilien  Sebastien  Foy,  general  and  orator,  was  born  at  Ham,  in 
Picardy,  1775.  Was  commander  of  cavalry  under  Moreau,  and  opposed  the 
assumption  of  imperial  power  by  Napoleon.  Served  in  Spain,  and  became 
general  of  division,  1810,  and  led  a  division  at  "Waterloo.  After  the  war,  he 
took  first  rank  as  an  orator.  Died  1825.  —  TRANS. 


202  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

for  the  colonel's  young  child  three  or  four  years  of  age,  and 
his  father  obtained  the  favor  of  embracing  him.  He  came 
each  morning  in  his  mother's  arms,  and  a  turnkey  carried 
him  in .  to  the  prisoner,  before  which  inconvenient  witness 
the  poor  little  thing  played  his  role  with  all  the  skill  of 
a  consummate  actor.  He  would  pretend  to  be  lame,  and 
complain  of  having  sand  hi  his  shoes  which  hurt  him- 
and  the  colonel,  turning  his  back  on  the  jailer,  and  taking 
the  child  in  his  lap  to  remove  the  cause  of  the  trouble, 
would  find  in  his  son's  shoe  a  note  from  his  wife,  inform- 
ing him  in  a  few  words  of  the  state  of  the  trial,  and  what 
he  had  to  hope  or  fear  for  himself.  At  length,  after  many 
months  of  captivity,  sentence  having  been  pronounced 
against  the  conspirators,  Colonel  Delelee,  against  whom 
no  charge  had  been  made,  was  not  absolved  as  he  had  a 
right  to  expect,  but  was  struck  off  the  army  list,  arbi- 
trarily put  under  surveillance,  and  prohibited  from  coming 
within  forty  leagues  of  Paris.  He  was  also  forbidden  to 
return  to  Besangon,  and  it  was  more  than  a  year  after 
leaving  prison  before  he  was  permitted  to  do  so. 

Young  and  full  of  courage,  the  Colonel  saw,  from  the 
depths  of  his  retirement,  his  friends  and  comrades  make 
their  way,  and  gain  upon  the  battlefield  fame,  rank,  and 
glory,  while  he  himself  was  condemned  to  inaction  and  ob- 
scurity, and  to  pass  his  days  in  following  on  the  map  the 
triumphant  march  of  those  armies  in  which  he  felt  himself 
worthy  to  resume  his  rank.  Innumerable  applications  were 
addressed  by  him  and  his  friends  to  the  head  of  the  Empire, 
that  he  might  be  allowed  to  go  even  as  a  common  volun- 
teer, and  rejoin  his  former  comrades  with  his  knapsack  on 
his  shoulder;  but  these  petitions  were  refused,  the  will  of 


THE  DEPUTATION   FROM  BESAN^ON.  203 

the  Emperor  was  inflexible,  and  to  each  new  application  he 
only  replied,  "  Let  him  wait."  The  inhabitants  of  Besan- 
9on,  who  considered  Colonel  Delelee  as  their  fellow-citizen, 
interested  themselves  warmly  in  the  unmerited  misfortunes 
of  this  brave  officer ;  and  when  an  occasion  presented  itself 
of  recommending  him  anew  to  the  clemency,  or  "rather  to 
the  justice,  of  the  Emperor,  they  availed  themselves  of  it. 

It  was,  I  believe,  on  the  return  from  Prussia  and  Poland 
that  from  all  parts  of  France  there  came  deputations  charged 
with  congratulating  the  Emperor  upon  his  several  victories. 
Colonel  Delelee  was  unanimously  elected  member  of  the 
deputation  of  Doubs,  of  which  the  mayor  and  prefect  of 
Besan§on  were  also  members,  and  of  which  the  respectable 

Marshal  M 1  was  president,  and  an  opportunity  was  thus 

at  last  offered  Colonel  Delelee  of  procuring  the  removal  of 
the  long  sentence  which  had  weighed  him  down  and  kept 
his  sword  idle.  He  could  speak  to  the  Emperor,  and  com- 
plain respectfully,  but  with  dignity,  of  the  disgrace  in 
which  he  had  been  so  long  kept  without  reason.  He 
could  render  thanks,  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  for  the 
generous  affection  of  his  fellow-citizens,  whose  wishes,  he 
hoped  would  plead  for  him  with  his  Majesty. 

The  deputies  of  Besangon,  upon  their  arrival  at  Paris, 
presented  themselves  to  the  different  ministers.  The  min- 
ister of  police 2  took  the  president  of  the  deputation  aside, 
and  asked  him  the  meaning  of  the  presence  among  the 
deputies  of  a  man  publicly  known  to  be  in  disgrace,  and 
the  sight  of  whom  could  not  fail  to  be  disagreeable  to  the 
chief  of  the  Empire. 

Marshal  M  -   — ,  on  coming  out  from  this  private  inter- 

1  Marshal  Moncey.  —  TKANS.  2  Savary.  —  TRANS. 


204  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

view,  pale  and   frightened,  entered  the  room  of  Colonel 
Delelee. 

"  My  friend,"  said  he,  "  all  is  lost,  for  I  have  ascertained 
at  the  bureau  that  they  are  still  hostile  to  you.     If  the  Em- 
peror sees  you  among  us,  he  will  take  it  as  an  open  avowal 
of  disregard  for  his  orders,  and  will  be  furious." 
"  Ah,  well,  what  have  I  to  do  with  that?  " 
"But  in  order  to  avoid  compromising  the  department, 
the  deputation,  and,  indeed,  in  order  to  avoid  compromising 
yourself,  you  would  perhaps  do  well "    —  the  Marshal  hesi- 
tated.    "I  will  do  well?"  demanded  the  Colonel. 
"  Perhaps  to  withdraw  without  making  any  display  " 
Here  the  colonel  interrupted  the  president  of  the  depu- 
tation :  "  Marshal,  permit  me  to  decline  this  advice ;  I  have 
not  come  so  far  to  be  discouraged,  like  a  child,  before  the 
first  obstacle.     I  am  weary  of  a  disgrace  which  I  have  not 
deserved,  and  still  more  weary  of  enforced  idleness.    Let  the 
Emperor  be  irritated  or  pleased,  he  shall  see  me ;   let  him 
order  me  to  be  shot,  if  he  wishes.     I  do  not  count  worth 
having  such  a  life  as  I  have  led  for  the  last  four  years. 
Nevertheless,  I  will   be   satisfied  with   whatever   my  col- 
leagues, the  deputies  of  BesanQon,  shall  decide." 

These  latter  did  not  disapprove  of  the  colonel's  resolu- 
tion, and  he  accompanied  them  to  the  Tuileries  on  the  day 
of  the  solemn  reception  of  all  the  deputations  of  the  Empire. 
All  the  halls  of  the  Tuileries  were  packed  with  a  crowd 
in  richly  embroidered  coats  and  brilliant  uniforms.  The 
military  household  of  the  Emperor,  his  civil  household,  the 
generals  present  at  Paris,  the  diplomatic  corps,  ministers 
and  chiefs  of  the  different  administrations,  the  deputies  of 
the  departments  with  their  prefects,  and  mayors  decorated 


THEIR   RECEPTION.  205 

with  tricolored  scarfs,  were  all  assembled  in  numerous 
groups,  and  conversed  in  a  low  tone  while  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  his  Majesty. 

In  one  of  these  groups  was  seen  a  tall  officer  dressed  in 
a  veiy  simple  uniform,  cut  in  the  fashion  of  several  years 
past.  He  wore  neither  on  his  collar,  nor  even  on  his  breast 
the  decoration  which  no  officer  of  his  grade  then  lacked. 
This  was  Colonel  Delelee.  The  president  of  the  deputa- 
tion of  which  he  was  a  member  appeared  embarrassed  and 
almost  distressed.  Of  the  former  comrades  of  the  colonel, 
very  few  dared  to  recognize  him,  and  the  boldest  gave  him 
a  distant  nod  wliich  expressed  at  the  same  time  anxiety  and 
pity,  while  the  more  prudent  did  not  even  glance  at  him. 

As  for  him,  he  remained  unconcerned  and  resolute. 

At  last  the  folding  doors  were  opened,  and  an  usher 
cried  "The  Emperor,  gentlemen." 

The  groups  separated,  and  a  line  was  formed,  the  colonel 
placing  himself  in  the  first  rank. 

His  Majesty  commenced  his  tour  of  the  room,  wel- 
coming the  president  of  each  delegation  with  a  few  flatter- 
ing words.  Arrived  before  the  delegation  from  Doubs,  the 
Emperor,  having  addressed  a  few  words  to  the  brave  mar- 
shal who  was  president,  was  about  to  pass  on  to  the  next, 
when  his  eyes  fell  upon  an  officer  he  had  not  yet  seen. 
He  stopped  in  surprise,  and  addressed  to  the  deputy  his 
familiar  inquiry,  "  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"Sire,  I  am  Colonel  Delelee,  former  aide-de-camp  of 
General  Moreau." 

These  words  were  pronounced  in  a  firm  voice,  which 
resounded  in  the  midst  of  the  profound  silence  which 
the  presence  of  the  sovereign  imposed. 


206  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  Emperor  stepped  back,  and  fastened  both  eyes  on 
the  colonel.  The  latter  showed  no  emotion,  but  bowed 
slightly. 

Marshal  M was  pale  as  death. 

The  Emperor  spoke.  "What  do  you  come  to  ask 
here  ?  " 

"  That  which  I  have  asked  for  many  years,  Sire :  that 
your  Majesty  will  deign  to  tell  me  wherein  I  have  been 
in  fault,  or  restore  to  me  my  rank." 

Among  those  near  enough  to  hear  these  questions  and 
replies,  few  could  breathe  freely.  At  last  a  smile  half 
opened  the  firmly  closed  lips  of  the  Emperor;  he  placed 
his  finger  on  his  mouth,  and,  approaching  the  colonel,  said 
to  him  in  a  softened  and  almost  friendly  tone,  "  You  have 
reason  to  complain  a  little  of  that,  but  let  us  say  no  more 
about  it,"  and  continued  his  round.  He  had  gone  ten  steps 
from  the  group  formed  by  the  deputies  of  Bescangon,  when 
he  came  back,  and,  stopping  before  the  colonel,  said,  — 

"Monsieur  Minister  of  War,  take  the  name  of  this 
officer,  and  be  sure  to  remind  me  of  him.  He  is  tired  of 
doing  nothing,  and  we  will  give  him  occupation." 

As  soon  as  the  audience  was  over,  the  struggle  was, 
who  should  be  most  attentive  to  the  colonel.  He  was  sur- 
rounded, congratulated,  embraced,  and  pulled  about.  Each 
of  his  old  comrades  wished  to  carry  him  off,  and  his  hands 
were  not  enough  to  grasp  all  those  extended  to  him. 
General  Savary,  who  that  very  evening  had  added  to  the 
fright  of  Marshal  Moncey,  by  being  astonished  that  any  one 
could  have  the  audacity  to  brave  the  Emperor,  extended 
his  arm  over  the  shoulders  of  those  who  pressed  around 
the  colonel,  and  shaking  his  hand  in  the  most  cordial 


COLONEL  DELE  LEE'S  RANK  RESTORED.  207 

manner  possible,  "Delelee,"  cried  he,  "do  not  forget  that 
I  expect  you  to-morrow  to  breakfast." 

Two  days  after  this  scene  at  court,  Colonel  Delelee 
received  his  appointment  as  chief  of  staff  of  the  army 
of  Portugal,  commanded  by  the  Duke  d'Abrantes.1  His 
preparations  were  soon  made ;  and  just  before  setting  out 
he  had  a  last  interview  with  the  Emperor,  who  said  to  him, 
"  Colonel,  I  know  that  it  is  useless  to  urge  you  to  make 
up  for  lost  time.  In  a  little  while  I  hope  we  shall  both 
be  satisfied  with  each  other." 

On  coming  out  from  this  last  audience,  the  brave 
Delelee  said  there  was  nothing  wanting  to  make  him 
happy  except  a  good  opportunity  to  have  himself  cut  to 
pieces  for  a  man  who  knew  so  well  how  to  close  the 
wounds  of  a  long  disgrace.  Such  was  the  sway  that  his 
Majesty  exercised  over  the  minds  of  men. 

The  colonel  had  soon  crossed  the  Pyrenees,  passed 
through  Spain,  and  been  received  by  Junot  with  open  arms. 
The  army  of  Portugal  had  suffered  much  in  the  two  years 
during  which  it  had  struggled  against  both  the  population 
and  the  English  with  unequal  forces.  Food  was  secured 
with  difficulty,  and  the  soldiers  were  badly  clothed,  and 
half-shod.  The  new  chief  of  staff  did  all  that  was  possible 
to  remedy  this  disorder ;  and  the  soldiers  had  just  begun  to 
feel  the  good  effects  of  his  presence,  when  he  fell  sick  from 
overwork  and  fatigue,  and  died  before  being  able,  accord- 

1  Andoche  Junot,  born  near  Semur  in  1771,  was  a  sergeant  at  Toulon,  and 
by  his  coolness  attracted  the  attention  of  Bonaparte,  who  made  him  his  sec- 
retary. He  was  general  of  brigade  in  Egypt ;  governor  of  Paris,  1806 ;  created 
Duke  d'Abrantes  and  general-in-chief  of  the  army  of  Portugal,  1809,  which 
he  surrendered  at  Cintra;  made  the  Spanish  and  Russian  campaign,  and  was 
then  governor  of  Illyria,  but  became  insane,  and  died  in  1813.  — TRANS. 


208  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ing  to  the  Emperor's  expression,  to  "make  up  for  lost 
time." 

I  have  said  elsewhere  that  upon  each  conspiracy  against 
the  life  of  the  First  Consul  all  the  members  of  his  house- 
hold were  at  once  subjected  to  a  strict  surveillance ; 
their  smallest  actions  were  watched;  they  were  followed 
outside  the  chateau;  their  conduct  was  reported  even  to 
the  smallest  details.  At  the  time  the  conspiracy  of  Piche- 
gru  was  discovered,  there  was  only  a  single  guardian  of 
the  portfolio,  by  the  name  of  Landoire;  and  his  position 
was  very  trying,  for  he  must  always  be  present  in  a  little 
dark  corridor  upon  which  the  door  of  the  cabinet  opened, 
and  he  took  his  meals  on  the  run,  and  half-dressed.  Hap- 
pily for  Landoire,  they  gave  him  an  assistant ;  and  this  was 
the  occasion  of  it. 

Augel,  one  of  the  doorkeepers  of  the  palace,  was  ordered 
by  the  First  Consul  to  place  himself  at  the  barrier  of  Bons- 
hommes  during  the  trial  of  Pichegru,  to  recognize  and 
watch  the  people  of  the  household  who  came  and  went 
in  the  transaction  of  their  business,  no  one  being  allowed  to 
leave  Paris  without  permission.  Angel's  reports  having 
pleased  the  First  Consul,  he  sent  for  him,  was  satisfied  with 
his  replies  and  intelligence,  and  appointed  him  assistant  to 
Landoire  in  the  custody  of  the  portfolio.  Thus  the  task 
of  the  latter  became  lighter  by  half.  In  1812  Augel  was 
in  the  campaign  of  Russia,  and  died  on  the  return,  when 
within  a  few  leagues  of  Paris,  in  consequence  of  the  fatigue 
and  privations  which  we  shared  with  the  army. 

However,  it  was  not  only  those  attached  to  the  service 
of  the  First  Consul,  or  the  chateau,  who  were  subject  to 
this  surveillance. 


THE  OFFICIAL   REGISTER.  209 

When  Napoleon  became  Emperor,  the  custodians  of  all 
the  imperial  palaces  were  furnished  with  a  register  upon 
which  all  persons  from  outside,  and  all  strangers  who  came 
to  visit  any  one  in  the  palace  were  obliged  to  inscribe  their 
names,  with  that  of  the  persons  whom  they  came  to  see. 
Every  evening  this  register  was  carried  to  the  grand  mar- 
shal of  the  palace,  and  in  his  absence  to  the  governor,  and 
the  Emperor  often  consulted  it.  He  once  found  there  a 
certain  name  which,  as  a  husband,  he  had  lii.s  reasons,  and 
perhaps  good  ones,  to  suspect.  His  Majesty  had  previously 
ordered  the  exclusion  of  this  person ;  arid  finding  this  un- 
lucky name  again  upon  the  custodian's  register,  he  was 
angry  beyond  measure,  believing  that  they  had  dared  on 
both  sides  to  disobey  his  orders.  Investigation  Avas  immedi- 
ately made ;  and  it  was  fortunately  ascertained  that  the 
visitor  was  a  most  insignificant  person,  whose  only  fault 
was  that  of  bearing  a  name  which  was  justly  compromised. 


210  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Awaking  of  the  First  Consul,  March  21, 1804. — The  First  Consul's  silence.  — 
Josephine  comes  to  the  First  Consul's  room. — Distress  of  Josephine  and 
pallor  of  the  First  Consul.  — "  The  wretches  have  heen  too  quick."  — 
News  of  the  death  of  the  Duke  d'Enghien.  —  Agitation  of  the  First  Con- 
sul. —  Preludes  to  the  Empire. — The  First  Consul,  Emperor.  —  The  Sen- 
ate at  Saint-Cloud.  —  Cambaceres  first  to  salute  the  Emperor  as  Sire.  — 
The  Senators  pay  their  respects  to  the  Empress.  —  Joy  in  the  chateau.  — 
Everybody  promoted.  — The  saloon  and  the  antechamber.  —  Embarrass- 
ment of  all  the  servants.  —  The  first  awaking  of  the  Emperor.  —  The 
French  princes.  —  Monsieur  Lucien  and  Madame  Jouberton.  —  The  mar- 
shals of  the  Empire.  —  Awkwardness  of  the  new  courtiers.  —  The  cham- 
berlains and  grand  officers.  —  Lessons  given  by  officers  of  the  old  court. 
—  Contempt  of  the  Emperor  for  the  anniversaries  of  the  Revolution.  — 
The  Emperor's  first  fete  and  the  first  Imperial  cortege. — The  Temple  of 
Mars  and  the  grand  master  of  ceremonies. — The  Archbishop  du  Belloy 
and  the  grand  chancelor  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  —  The  man  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  Imperial  accolade.  —  Departure  from  Paris  for  the  camp  of 
Boulogne. — The  only  leave  of  absence  which  the  Emperor  gave  me. — My 
arrival  at  Boulogne. — Details  of  my  service  with  the  Emperor. — Mes- 
sieurs de  Re'musat,  Boyer,  Yvan.  —  Habits  of  the  Emperor.  —  De  Bour- 
rienne  and  the  tip  of  the  ear. — Habit  of  giving  little  slaps. — Violence 
of  the  Emperor  towards  his  equerry.  —  Caulaiucourt,  grand  equerry.  — 
Reparation.  —  Liberal  indemnification. 

THE  year  1804,  which  was  so  full  of  glory  for  the 
Emperor,  was  also  the  year  which  brought  him  more  care 
and  anxiety  than  all  others,  except  those  of  1814  and 
1815.  It  is  not  my  province  to  pass  judgment  on  such 
grave  events,  nor  to  determine  what  part  was  taken  in  them 
by  the  Emperor,  or  by  those  who  surrounded  and  coun- 
seled him,  for  it  is  my  object  to  relate  only  what  I  saw  and 
heard.  On  the  21st  of  March  of  that  year  I  entered  the 


MARCH  gl.  180A.  211 


Emperor's  room  at  an  early  hour,  and  found  him  awake, 
leaning  on  his  elbow.  He  seemed  gloomy  and  tired ;  but 
when  I  entered  he  sat  up,  passed  his  hand  many  times 
over  his  forehead,  and  said  to  me,  "  Constant,  I  have  a 
headache."  Then,  throwing  off  the  covering,  he  added,  "  I 
have  slept  very  badly."  He  seemed  extremely  preoccupied 
and  absorbed,  and  his  appearance  evinced  melancholy  and 
suffering  to  such  a  degree  that  I  was  surprised  and  some- 
what anxious.  While  I  was  dressing  him  he  did  not  utter 
a  word,  which  never  occurred  except  when  something  agi- 
tated or  worried  him.  During  this  time  only  Roustan  and 
I  were  present.  His  toilet  being  completed,  just  as  I  was 
handing  him  his  snuff-box,  handkerchief,  and  little  bon- 
bon box,  the  door  opened  suddenly,  and  the  First  Consul's 
wife  entered,  in  her  morning  negligSe,  much  agitated,  with 
traces  of  tears  on  her  cheeks.  Her  sudden  appearance  as- 
tonished, and  even  alarmed,  Roustan  and  myself ;  for  it 
was  only  an  extraordinary  circumstance  which  could  have 
induced  Madame  Bonaparte  to  leave  her  room  in  this 
costume,  before  taking  all  necessary  precautions  to  conceal 
the  damage  which  the  want  of  the  accessories  of  the  toilet 
did  her.  She  entered,  or  rather  rushed,  into  the  room, 
crying,  "  The  Duke  d'Enghien  is  dead !  Ah,  my  friend  ! 
what  have  you  done  ?  "  Then  she  fell  sobbing  into  the 
arms  of  the  First  Consul,  who  became  pale  as  death,  and 
said  with  extraordinary  emotion,  "  The  miserable  wretches 
have  been  too  quick !  "  He  then  left  the  room,  supporting 
Madame  Bonaparte,  who  could  hardly  walk,  and  was  still 
weeping.  The  news  of  the  prince's  death  spread  consterna- 
tion in  the  chateau ;  and  the  First  Consul  remarked  this  uni- 
versal grief,  but  reprimanded  no  one  for  it.  The  fact  is, 


212  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  greatest  chagrin  which  this  mournful  catastrophe  caused 
his  servants,  most  of  whom  were  attached  to  him  by  affec- 
tion even  more  than  by  duty,  came  from  the  belief  that  it 
would  inevitably  tarnish  the  glory  and  destroy  the  peace  of 
mind  of  their  master. 

The  First  Consul  probably  understood  our  feelings  per- 
fectly ;  but  however  that  may  be,  I  have  here  related  all 
that  I  myself  saw  and  know  of  this  deplorable  event.  I  do 
not  pretend  to  know  what  passed  in  the  cabinet  meeting, 
but  the  emotion  of  the  First  Consul  appeared  to  me  sincere 
and  unaffected;  and  he  remained  sad  and  silent  for  many 
days,  speaking  very  little  at  his  toilet,  and  saying  only 
what  was  necessary. 

During  this  month  and  the  following  I  noticed  con- 
stantly passing,  repassing,  and  holding  frequent  inter- 
views with  the  First  Consul,  many  persons  whom  I  was 
told  were  members  of  the  council  of  state,  tribunes,  or  sen- 
ators. For  a  long  time  the  army  and  a  great  number 
of  citizens,  who  idolized  the  hero  of  Italy  and  Egypt,  had 
manifested  openly  their  desire  to  see  him  wear  a  title 
worthy  of  his  renown  and  the  greatness  of  France.  It  was 
well  known,  also,  that  he  alone  performed  all  the  duties  of 
government,  and  that  his  nominal  colleagues  were  really  his 
subordinates.  It  was  thought  proper,  therefore,  that  he 
should  become  supreme  head  of  the  state  in  name,  as  he 
already  was  in  fact.  I  have  often  since  his  fall  heard 
his  Majesty  called  an  usurper :  but  the  only  effect  of  this  on 
me  is  to  provoke  a  smile  of  pity ;  for  if  the  Emperor  usurped 
the  throne,  he  had  more  accomplices  than  all  the  tyrants  of 
tragedy  and  melodrama  combined,  for  three-fourths  of  the 
French  people  were  hi  the  conspiracy.  As  is  well  known, 


NAPOLEON,   EMPEROR.  213 

it  was  on  May  18  that  the  Empire  was  proclaimed,  and 
the  First  Consul  (whom  I  shall  henceforward  call  the 
Emperor)  received  at  Saint-Cloud  the  Senate,  led  by 
Consul  Cambaceres,  who  became,  a  few  hours  later,  arch- 
chancellor  of  the  Empire ;  and  it  was  by  him  that  the 
Emperor  heard  himself  for  the  first  time  saluted  with 
the  title  of  Sire.  After  this  audience  the  Senate  went  to 
present  its  homage  to  the  Empress  Josephine.  The  rest  of 
the  day  was  passed  in  receptions,  presentations,  interviews, 
and  congratulations ;  everybody  in  the  chateau  was  drunk 
with  joy;  each  one  felt  that  he  had  been  suddenly  pro- 
moted in  rank,  so  they  embraced  each  other,  exchanged 
compliments,  and  confided  to  each  other  hopes  and  plans 
for  the  future.  There  was  no  subaltern  too  humble  to  be 
inspired  with  ambition ;  in  a  word,  the  antechamber,  saving 
the  difference  of  persons,  furnished  an  exact  repetition  of 
what  passed  in  the  saloon.  Nothing  could  be  more  amus- 
ing than  the  embarrassment  of  the  whole  service  when  it 
was  necessary  to  reply  to  his  Majesty's  questions.  They 
would  begin  with  a  mistake,  then  would  try  again,  and  do 
worse,  saying  ten  times  in  the  same  minute,  "  Sire,  general, 
your  Majesty,  citizen,  First  Consul."  The  next  morning 
on  entering  as  usual  the  First  Consul's  room,  to  his  cus- 
tomary questions,  "What  o'clock  is  it?  What  is  the 
weather?"  I  replied,  "  Sire,  seven  o'clock ;  fine  weather." 
As  I  approached  his  bed,  he  seized  me  by  the  ear,  and 
slapped  me  on  the  cheek,  calling  me  "Monsieur  le  drdle" 
which  was  his  favorite  expression  when  especially  pleased 
with  me.  His  Majesty  had  kept  awake,  and  worked  late 
into  the  night,  and  I  found  him  serious  and  preoccupied, 
but  well  satisfied.  How  different  this  awakening  to  that 


214  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  the  21st  of  March  preceding !  On  this  day  his  Majesty 
went  to  hold  his  first  grand  levee  at  the  Tuileries,  where 
all  the  civil  and  military  authorities  were  presented  to  him. 
The  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  Emperor  were  made  princes 
and  princesses,  with  the  exception  of  Lucien,  who  had 
quarreled  with  his  Majesty  on  the  occasion  of  his  marriage 
with  Madame  Jouberton.  Eighteen  generals  were  raised  to 
the  dignity  of  marshals  of  the  empire.1  Dating  from  this 
day,  everything  around  their  Majesties  took  on  the  appear- 
ance of  a  court  and  royal  power.  Much  has  been  said  of 
the  awkwardness  of  the,  first  courtiers,  not  yet  accustomed 
to  the  new  duties  imposed  upon  them,  and  to  the  cere- 
monials of  etiquette ;  and  there  was,  indeed,  hi  the  begin- 
ning some  embarrassment  experienced  by  those  in  the 
immediate  service  of  the  Emperor,  as  I  have  said  above ; 
but  this  lasted  only  a  short  while,  and  the  chamberlains 
and  high  officials  adapted  themselves  to  the  new  regime 
almost  as  quickly  as  the  valets  de  chambre.  They  had  also 
as  instructors  many  personages  of  the  old  court,  who  had 
been  struck  out  of  the  list  of  emigres  by  the  kindness  of 
the  Emperor,  and  now  solicited  earnestly  for  themselves 
and  their  wives  employment  in  the  new  imperial  court. 
His  majesty  had  no  liking  for  the  anniversaries  of 


1  Berthier,  Murat,  Moncey,  Jourdan,  Massena,  Augereau,  Bemadotte, 
Soult,  Brune,  Lannes,  Mortier,  Ney,  Davoust,  Bessieres,  Kellerman,  Le- 
febvre,  Perignon,  and  Serrurier.  The  last  four  were  then  in  the  Senate,  and 
were  called  honorary  marshals,  though  Lefebvre  afterwards  served  on  the 
active  list.  Victor  was  made  a  marshal  1807,  at  Friedland ;  MacDonald,  Ou- 
dinot,  and  Marmont  at  Wagram,  1809;  Suchet  in  1811;  St.  Cyr  in  1812;  Ponia- 
towski,  1813;  Grouchy,  1815;  total,  twenty-six.  Twelve  of  these  had  served 
under  him  in  Italy  in  1796  and  1797.  Three  were  killed  in  war,  —  Lannes, 
Bessieres,  and  Poniatowski.  Murat  and  Ney  were  shot;  and  three  others, 
Berthier,  Brune,  and  Mortier,  came  to  violent  deaths.  —  TRANS. 


THE  FIRST  IMPERIAL   FETE.  215 

the  Republic ;  some  of  which  had  always  seemed  to  him 
odious  and  cruel,  others  ridiculous ;  and  I  have  heard  him 
express  his  indignation  that  they  should  have  dared  to 
make  an  annual  festival  of  the  anniversary  of  the  21st  of 
January,1  and  smile  with  pity  at  the  recollection  of  what 
he  called  the  masquerades  of  the  theo-philanthropists,  who, 
he  said,  "  would  have  no  Jesus  Christ,  and  yet  made  saints 
of  Fenelon  and  Las  Casas  —  Catholic  prelates." 

Bourrienne,  in  his  Memoirs,  says  that  it  was  not  one  of 
the  least  singular  things  in  the  policy  of  Napoleon,  that  dur- 
ing the  first  years  of  his  reign  he  retained  the  festival'  of 
14th  July.2  I  will  observe,  as  to  this,  that  if  his  Majesty 
used  this  annual  solemnity  to  appear  in  pomp  in  public,  on 
the  other  hand,  he  so  changed  the  object  of  the  festival  that 
it  would  have  been  difficult  to  recognize  in  it  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  taking  of  the  Bastile  and  of  the  First  Federa- 
tion. I  do  not  think  that  there  was  one  word  in  allusion 
to  these  two  events  in  the  whole  ceremony;  and  to  con- 
fuse still  further  the  recollections  of  the  Republicans,  the 
Emperor  ordered  that  the  festival  should  be  celebrated  on 
the  15th,  because  that  was  Sunday,  and  thus  there  would 
result  no  loss  of  time  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  capital. 
Besides,  there  was  no  allusion  made  to  honoring  the  captors 
of  the  Bastile,  this  being  made  simply  the  occasion  of  a 
grand  distribution  of  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

It  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  their  Majesties  showed 
themselves  to  the  people  in  all  the  paraphernalia  of  power. 


1  The  anniversary  of  the  execution  of  Louis  XVI.,  Jan.  21,  1793. — 
TKANS. 

2  The  anniversary  of  the  taking  of  the  Bastile,  1789.     This  has  been  re- 
vived, and  is  to  the  present  Republic  what  the  4th  of  July  is  to  us.  —  TRANS. 


216  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  cortege  crossed  the  grand  alley  of  the  Tuileries  on 
their  way  to  the  Hotel  des  Invalides,  the  church  of  which 
(changed  during  the  Revolution  into  a  Temple  of  Mars)  had 
been  restored  by  the  Emperor  to  the  Catholic  worship,  and 
was  used  for  the  magnificent  ceremonies  of  the  day.  This 
was  also  the  first  time  that  the  Emperor  had  made  use  of 
the  privilege  of  passing  in  a  carriage  through  the  garden 
of  the  Tuileries.  His  cortege  was  superb,  that  of  the 
Empress  Josephine  not  less  brilliant;  and  the  intoxication 
of  the  people  reached  such  a  height,  that  it  was  beyond 
expression.  By  order  of  the  Emperor  I  mingled  in  the 
crowd,  to  learn  in  what  spirit  the  populace  would  take  part 
in  the  festival ;  and  I  heard  not  a  murmur,  so  great  was  the 
enthusiasm  of  all  classes  for  his  Majesty  at  that  time,  what- 
ever may  have  been  said  since.  The  Emperor  and  Em- 
press were  received  at  the  door  of  the  Hotel  des  Invalides 
by  the  governor  and  by  Count  de  Segur,1  grand  master  of 
ceremonies,  and  at  the  entrance  of  the  church  by  Cardinal 
du  Belloy2  at  the  head  of  a  numerous  clergy.  After  the 
mass,  de  Lacepede,3  grand  chancellor  of  the  Legion  of 
Honor,  delivered  a  speech,  followed  by  the  roll-call  of  the 
grand  officers  of  the  Legion,  after  which  the  Emperor  took 
his  seat,  and  putting  on  his  hat,  repeated  in  a  firm  voice 


1  Count  Louis  Philippe  de  Segur,  born  in  Paris,  1753;  served  under 
Rochambeau  in  the  American  Revolutionary  War;   ambassador  to  Russia, 
1784 ;  died  1830.    He  was  father  of  Count  Philippe  de  Segur,  historian  of  the 
campaign  in  Russia. — TRANS. 

2  Jean  Baptiste  du  Belloy,  born  1709,  bishop  1761,  archbishop  of  Paris 
1802,  died  1808,  aged  ninety-nine.  —TRANS. 

•  Etienne  de  Lacepede,  celebrated  naturalist  and  musician,  born  at  Agen, 
1756;  Austrian  colonel  before  the  Revolution,  member  of  Legislative  As- 
sembly, Council  of  Five  Hundred,  and  the  Senate,  peer  1819,  died  1825. — 
TRANS. 


DEPARTURE  FROM  PARIS.  217 

the  formula  of  the  oath,  at  the  end  of  which  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Legion  cried,  "  Je  le  jure  I  "  (I  swear  it)  ;  and 
immediately  shouts  of  "  Vive  I  'Empereur"  repeated  a  thou- 
sand times,  were  heard  in  the  church  and  outside. 

A  singular  circumstance  added  still  more  to  the  interest 
which  the  ceremony  excited.  While  the  chevaliers  of  the 
new  order  were  passing  one  by  one  before  the  Emperor,  who 
welcomed  them,  a  man  of  the  people,  wearing  a  rounda- 
bout, placed  himself  on  the  steps  of  the  throne.  His 
Majesty  showed  some  astonishment,  and  paused  an  instant, 
whereupon  the  man,  being  interrogated,  showed  his  war- 
rant. The  Emperor  at  once  and  with  great  cordiality  bade 
him  advance,  and  gave  him  the  decoration,  accompanied 
by  a  sharp  accolade.  The  cortege,  on  its  return,  followed 
the  same  route,  passing  again  through  the  garden  of  the 
Tuileries. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  three  days  after  this  ceremony, 
the  Emperor  set  out  from  Saint-Cloud  for  the  camp  of 
Boulogne.  Believing  that  his  Majesty  would  be  willing  to 
dispense  with  my  presence  for  a  few  days,  and  as  it  was  a 
number  of  years  since  I  had  seen  my  family,  I  felt  a  natural 
desire  to  meet  them  again,  and  to  review  with  my  parents 
the  singular  circumstances  through  which  I  had  passed 
since  I  had  left  them. 

I  should  have  experienced,  I  confess,  great  joy  in  talk- 
ing with  them  of  my  present  situation  and  my  hopes  ;  and  I 
felt  the  need  of  freely  expressing  myself,  and  enjoying  the 
confidences  of  domestic  privacy,  in  compensation  for  the 
repression  and  constraint  which  my  position  imposed  on 
me.  Therefore  I  requested  permission  to  pass  eight  days 
at  Perueltz.  It  was  readily  granted,  and  I  lost  no  time  in 


218  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

setting  out ;  but  my  astonishment  may  be  imagined  when, 
the  very  day  after  my  arrival,  a  courier  brought  me  a  letter 
from  the  Count  de  Remusat,  ordering  me  to  rejoin  the  Em- 
peror immediately,  adding  that  his  Majesty  needed  me,  and 
I  should  have  no  other  thought  than  that  of  returning 
without  delay.  In  spite  of  the  disappointment  induced  by 
such  orders,  I  felt  flattered  nevertheless  at  having  become 
so  necessary  to  the  great  man  who  had  deigned  to  admit 
me  into  his  service,  and  at  once  bade  adieu  to  my  family. 
His  Majesty  had  hardly  reached  Boulogne,  when  he  set 
out  again  immediately  on  a  tour  of  several  days  in  the 
departments  of  the  north.  I  was  at  Boulogne  before  his 
return,  and  had  organized  his  Majesty's  service  so  that  he 
found  everything  ready  on  his  arrival ;  but  this  did  not 
prevent  his  saying  to  me  that  I  had  been  absent  a  long  time. 
While  I  am  on  this  subject,  I  will  narrate  here,  although 
some  years  in  advance,  one  or  two  circumstances  which 
will  give  the  reader  a  better  idea  of  the  rigorous  confine- 
ment to  which  I  was  subjected.  I  had  contracted,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  fatigues  of  my  continual  journeyings  in 
the  suite  of  the  Emperor,  a  disease  of  the  bladder,  from 
which  I  suffered  horribly.  For  a  long  time  I  combated  the 
disease  with  patience  and  dieting;  but  at  last,  the  pain 
having  become  entirely  unbearable,  in  1808  I  requested  of 
his  Majesty  a  month's  leave  of  absence  in  order  to  be  cured, 
Dr.  Boyer  having  told  me  that  a  month  was  the  shortest 
time  absolutely  necessary  for  my  restoration,  and  that  with- 
out it  my  disease  would  become  incurable.  I  went  to 
Saint-Cloud  to  visit  my  wife's  family,  where  Yvan,  surgeon 
of  the  Emperor,  came  to  see  me  every  day.  Hardly  a  week 
had  passed,  when  he  told  me  that  his  Majesty  thought  I 


CONSTANT'S  LEAVES   OF  ABSENCE.  219 

ought  to  be  entirely  well,  and  wished  me  to  resume  my 
duties.  This  wish  was  equivalent  to  an  order;  it  was 
thus  I  understood  it,  and  returned  to  the  Emperor,  who 
seeing  me  pale,  and  suffering  excruciatingly,  deigned  to 
say  to  me  many  kind  things,  without,  however,  mentioning  a 
new  leave  of  absence.  These  two  were  my  only  absences 
for  sixteen  years ;  therefore,  on  my  return  from  Moscow, 
and  during  the  campaign  of  France,  my  disease  having 
reached  its  height,  I  quitted  the  Emperor  at  Fontainebleau, 
because  it  was  impossible  for  me,  in  spite  of  all  my  attach- 
ment to  so  kind  a  master,  and  all  the  gratitude  which  I  felt 
towards  him,  to  perform  my  duties  longer.  Even  after  this 
separation,  which  was  exceedingly  painful  to  me,  a  year 
hardly  sufficed  to  cure  me,  and  then  not  entirely.  But  I 
shall  take  occasion  farther  on  to  speak  of  this  melancholy 
event.  I  now  return  to  the  recital  of  facts,  which  prove 
that  I  could,  with  more  reason  than  many  others,  believe 
myself  a  person  of  great  importance,  since  my  humble  ser- 
vices seemed  to  be  indispensable  to  the  master  of  Europe, 
and  many  frequenters  of  the  Tuileries  would  have  had 
more  difficulty  than  I  in  proving  their  usefulness.  Is  there 
too  much  vanity  in  what  I  have  just  said  ?  and  would  not 
the  chamberlains  have  a  right  to  be  vexed  by  it?  I  am 
not  concerned  with  that,  so  I  continue  my  narrative.  The 
Emperor  was  tenacious  of  old  habits ;  he  preferred,  as  we 
have  already  seen,  being  served  by  me  in  preference  to 
all  others ;  nevertheless,  it  is  my  duty  to  state  that  his 
servants  were  all  full  of  zeal  and  devotion,  though  I  had 
been  with  him  longest,  and  had  never  left  him.  One  day 
the  Emperor  asked  for  tea  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  M. 
Seneschal  was  on  duty,  consequently  made  the  tea,  and  pre- 


220  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

sented  it  to  his  Majesty,  who  declared  it  to  be  detestable, 
and  had  me  summoned.  The  Emperor  complained  to  me 
that  they  were  trying  to  poison  him  (this  was  his  expression 
when  he  found  a  bad  taste  in  anything)  ;  so  going  into  the 
kitchen,  I  poured  out  of  the  same  teapot,  a  cup,  which  I 
prepared  and  carried  to  his  Majesty,  with  two  silver-gilt 
spoons  as  usual,  one  to  taste  the  tea  in  the  presence  of  the 
Emperor,  and  the  other  for  him.  This  time  he  said  the  tea 
was  excellent,  and  complimented  me  on  it  with  a  kind  fa- 
miliarity which  he  deigned  at  times  to  use  towards  his 
servants.  On  returning  the  cup  to  me,  he  pulled  my  ears, 
and  said,  "You  must  teach  them  how  to  make  tea;  they 
know  nothing  about  it."  De  Bourrienne,  whose  excellent 
Memoirs  I  have  read  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  says  some- 
where,  that  the  Emperor  in  his  moments  of  good  humor 
pinched  the  tip  of  the  ears  of  his  familiars.  I  myself  think 
that  he  pinched  the  whole  ear,  often,  indeed,  both  ears  at 
once,  and  with  the  hand  of  a  master.  He  also  says  in 
these  same  Memoirs,  that  the  Emperor  gave  little  friendly 
slaps  with  two  fingers,  in  which  De  Bourrienne  is  very  mod- 
erate, for  I  can  bear  witness  in  regard  to  this  matter,  that 
his  Majesty,  although  his  hand  was  not  large,  bestowed  his 
favors  much  more  broadly ;  but  this  kind  of  caress,  as  well 
as  the  former,  was  given  and  received  as  a  mark  of  particu- 
lar favor,  and  the  recipients  were  far  from  complaining  then. 
I  have  heard  more  than  one  dignitary  say  with  pride,  like 
the  sergeant  in  the  comedy,  — 

"  Sir,  feel  there,  the  blow  upon  my  cheek  is  still  warm." 

In   his   private    apartments    the    Emperor    was    almost 
always  cheerful  and  approachable,  conversing  freely  with 


HABITS  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  221 

the  persons  in  his  service,  questioning  them  about  their 
families,  their  affairs,  and  even  as  to  their  pleasures.  His 
toilet  finished,  his  appearance  suddenly  changed ;  he  be- 
came grave  and  thoughtful,  and  assumed  again  the  bearing 
of  an  emperor.  It  has  been  said,  that  he  often  beat  the 
people  of  his  household,  which  statement  is  untrue.  I  saw 
him  once  only  give  himself  up  to  a  transport  of  this  kind ; 
and  certainly  the  circumstances  which  caused  it,  and  the 
reparation  which  followed,  ought  to  render  it,  if  not  excus- 
able, at  least  easily  understood.  This  is  the  incident,  of 
which  I  was  a  witness,  and  which  took  place  in  the  suburbs 
of  Vienna,  the  day  after  the  death  of  Marshal  Lannes. 
The  Emperor  was  profoundly  affected,  and  had  not  spoken 
a  word  during  his  toilet.  As  soon  as  he  was  dressed  he 
asked  for  his  horse ;  and  as  an  unlucky  chance  would  have 
it,  Jardin,  superintendent  of  the  stables,  could  not  be  found 
when  the  horse  was  saddled,  and  the  groom  did  not  put 
on  him  his  regular  bridle,  in  consequence  of  which  his 
Majesty  had  no  sooner  mounted,  than  the  animal  plunged, 
reared,  and  the  rider  fell  heavily  to  the  ground.  Jardin 
arrived  just  as  the  Emperor  was  rising  from  the  ground, 
beside  himself  with  anger ;  and  in  his  first  transport  of  rage, 
he  gave  Jardin  a  blow  with  his  riding-whip  directly  across 
his  face.  Jardin  withdrew,  overwhelmed  by  such  cruel 
treatment,  so  unusual  in  his  Majesty ;  and  a  few  hours  after, 
Caulaincourt,1  grand  equerry,  finding  himself  alone  with 

1  Armaiu?  August  Louis,  Marquis  de  Caulaincourt  by  birth,  created 
Duke  of  Vicenza  by  Napoleon,  was  bom  in  Picardy,  1772,  served  in  nearly  all 
the  wars  of  the  Republic.  Napoleon  made  him  grand  equerry,  general  of 
division,  and  sent  him  in  1807  as  minister  to  Russia.  He  made  the  Rus- 
sian campaign,  and  was  later  minister  of  foreign  affairs  and  envoy  to  the 
allied  army.  He  was  faithful  to  the  Emperor  to  the  last.  Died,  1827. 


222  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  Majesty,  described  to  him  Jardin's  grief  and  mortifica- 
tion. The  Emperor  expressed  deep  regret  for  his  anger, 
sent  for  Jardin,  and  spoke  to  him  with  a  kindness  which 
effaced  the  remembrance  of  his  ill  treatment,  and  sent  him 
a  few  days  afterward  three  thousand  francs.  I  have  been 
told  that  a  similar  incident  happened  to  Vigogne,  senior, 
in  Egypt.1  But  although  this  may  be  true,  two  such  in- 
stances alone  in  the  entire  life  of  the  Emperor,  which  was 
passed  amid  surroundings  so  well  calculated  to  make  a  man, 
even  though  naturally  most  amiable,  depart  from  his  usual 
character,  should  not  be  sufficient  to  draw  down  upon  Na- 
poleon the  odious  reproach  of  beating  cruelly  those  in  his 
service. 

1  NOTE  BY  CONSTANT.— We  arrived  at  Tentoura  on  the  20th  of  May. 
The  day  was  intensely  hot,  which  produced  a  general  feeling  of  depression. 
We  had  no  place  to  rest  but  on  the  arid,  burning  sands.  On  our  right  was 
a  hostile  sea,  and  on  the  left  the  desert.  Our  loss  in  wounded  and  sick  was 
already  considerable  since  we  had  left  Acre.  The  future  offered  nothing  to 
cheer  us.  This  truly  afflicting  condition  in  which  the  remnants  of  the  army 
which  had  been  called  triumphant  found  itself  made  upon  the  general-in- 
chief  a  profound  impression,  as  was  inevitable.  As  soon  as  he  arrived  at  Ten- 
toura he  had  his  tent  pitched,  and  dictated  to  me  absent-mindedly  an  order 
that  everybody  should  go  on  foot,  and  that  they  should  give  up  all  the  horses, 
camels,  and  mules  to  the  wounded,  the  sick,  and  the  plague-stricken,  who 
had  been  brought  along,  and  who  might  still  show  any  signs  of  life.  "  Carry 
that  to  Eerthier."  The  order  was  sent  immediately.  Hardly  had  I  returned 
to  the  tent,  when  Vigogne,  senior,  equerry  of  the  general-in-chief,  entered 
and  touching  his  hat,  said,  "  General,  what  liorse  will  you  keep  foryourself  ?  " 
In  the  first  emotions  of  anger  excited  by  this  question,  the  general-in-chief 
struck  the  equerry  violently  with  his  whip,  and  then  added  in  a  terrible 
voice,  "  Let  everybody  go  on  foot,  fool,  and  I  the  first.  Do  you  understand 
the  order  now  ?  Go  I  " —  Memoirs  of  Bourrienne,  vol.  ii.  ch.  xvi. 


NAPOLEON  A   HARD    WORKER.  223 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

The  Emperor's  intense  application  to  work.  —  Roustan  and  the  flask  of 
brandy.  —  Army  of  Boulogne.  —  The  four  camps.  — The  Pont-de-Briques. 
—  The  Emperor's  barrack.  —  The  council-chamber.  —  The  eagle  guided  by 
its  guardian  star. — The  Emperor's  bedroom. — The  bed.  —  Furniture. — 
Telescope-room.  —  Trunk.  —  Distribution  of  apartments.  —  The  sema- 
phore.—  The  gigantic  mortars. — The  Emperor  firing  the  first  bomb. — 
Barrack  of  Marshal  Soult.  —  The  Emperor  viewing  from  his  chamber 
Dover  and  its  garrison.  —  The  streets  of  the  camp  of  the  right  wing.  — 
Road  cut  perpendicularly  in  the  cliff. — The  forgotten  engineer.  —  The 
.flotilla.  —  The  forts.  —  Barrack  of  Prince  Joseph.  —  The  grenadier  stuck 
In  the  mud. —  Instance  of  the  Emperor's  kindness. — The  bridge  of  ser- 
vice. —  Terrible  countersign. — The  sentinels  and  sailors  of  the  watch. — 
Exclusion  of  women  and  strangers. — The  spies.  —  Discharge  of  mus- 
ketry.—  Schoolmaster  shot. — The  fire-ships. — Terror  in  the  town. — 
Military  song.  —  False  alarm.  — Consternation.  — Tranquillity  of  Madame 

F .  —  The  commandant  condemned  to  death,  but  pardoned  by  the 

Emperor. 

IN  his  headquarters  at  the  Pont  des  Briques  the 
Emperor  worked  as  regularly  as  in  his  cabinet  at  the 
Tuileries.  After  his  rides  on  horseback,  his  inspections, 
his  visits,  his  reviews,  he  took  his  meals  in  haste,  and  retired 
into  his  cabinet,  where  he  often  worked  most  of  the  night, 
thus  leading  the  same  life  as  at  Paris.  In  his  horseback 
rides  Roustan  followed  him  everywhere,  always  taking  with 
him  a  little  silver  flask  of  brandy  for  the  use  of  his  Maj- 
esty, who  rarely  asked  for  it. 

The  army  of  Boulogne  was  composed  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  infantiy  and  ninety  thousand 
cavalry,  divided  into  four  principal  camps,  —  the  carnp  of 


224  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  right  wing,  the  camp  of  the  left  wing,  the  camp  of 
Wimereux,  and  the  camp  of  Ambleteuse. 

His  Majesty  the  Emperor  had  his  headquarters  at  Pont 
de  Briques  ;  thus  named,  I  was  told,  because  the  brick  foun- 
dations of  an  old  camp  of  Caesar's  had  been  discovered  there. 
The  Pont  de  Briques,  as  I  have  said  above,  is  about  half 
a  league  from  Boulogne ;  and  the  headquarters  of  his 
Majesty  were  established  in  the  only  house  of  the  place 
which  was  then  habitable,  and  guarded  by  a  detachment  of 
the  cavalry  of  the  Imperial  Guard. 

The  four  camps  were  on  a  very  high  cliff  overlooking 
the  sea,  so  situated  that  in  fine  weather  the  coast  of  Eng- 
land could  be  seen. 

In  the  camp  on  the  right  they  had  established  barracks 
for  the  Emperor,  Admiral  Bruix,  Marshal  Soult,  and  Decres,1 
who  was  then  minister  of  the  navy. 

The  Emperor's  barrack  was  constructed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Sordi,  engineer,  performing  the  functions  of  engineer- 
in-chief  of  military  roads;  and  his  nephew,  Lecat  de  Rue, 
attached  at  that  time  to  the  staff  of  Marshal  Soult  as  aide- 
de-camp,  has  been  kind  enough  to  furnish  me  with  informa- 
tion which  did  not  come  within  my  province. 

The  Emperor's  barrack  was  built  of  plank,  like  the 
booths  of  a  country  fair  ;  with  this  difference,  that  the  planks 
were  neatly  planed,  and  painted  a  grayish  white.  In  form 
it  was  a  long  square,  having  at  each  end  two  pavilions  of 
semicircular  shape.  A  fence  formed  of  wooden  lattice 

1  Denis  Decres,  created  a  duke  by  Napoleon,  was  born  at  Chaumont  in 
Champagne,  1761,  entered  the  navy  at  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  was  rear- 
admiral  in  1798.  In  1801  he  was  made  minister  for  the  navy,  and  filled  the 
post  with  ability  for  thirteen  years.  In  1820  he  was  killed  by  his  valet,  who 
designed  to  rob  him.  —  TKANS. 


THE  EMPEROR'S  BARRACK.          225 

inclosed  this  barrack,  which  was  lighted  on  the  outside  by 
lamps  placed  four  feet  apart,  and  the  windows  were  placed 
laterally.  The  pavilion  next  to  the  sea  consisted  of  three 
rooms  and  a  hall,  the  principal  room,  used  as  a  council- 
chamber,  being  decorated  with  silver-gray  paper.  On  the 
ceiling  were  painted  golden  clouds,  in  the  midst  of  which 
appeared,  upon  the  blue  vault  of  the  sky,  an  eagle  hold- 
ing the  lightning,  and  guided  towards  England  by  a  star, 
the  guardian  star  of  the  Emperor.  In  the  middle  of  this 
chamber  was  a  large  oval  table  with  a  plain  cover  of  green 
cloth;  and  before  this  table  was  placed  only  his  Majesty's 
armchair,  which  could  be  taken  to  pieces,  and  was  made 
of  natural  wood,  unpainted,  and  covered  with  green  morocco 
stuffed  with  hair,  while  upon  the  table  was  a  boxwood  writ- 
ing-desk. This  was  the  entire  furniture  of  the  council-cham- 
ber, in  which  liis  Majesty  alone  could  be  seated.  The 
generals  stood  before  him,  and  had  during  these  councils, 
which  sometimes  lasted  three  or  four  hours,  no  other  support 
than  the  handles  of  their  sabers. 

The  council-chamber  was  entered  from  a  hall.  On  the 
right  of  this  hall  was  his  Majesty's  bedroom,  which  had  a 
glass  door,  and  was  lighted  by  a  window  which  looked  out 
upon  the  camp  of  the  right  wing,  while  the  sea  could  be 
seen  on  the  left.  In  this  room  was  the  Emperor's  iron  bed, 
with  a  large  curtain  of  plain  green  sarsenet,  fastened  to  the 
ceiling  by  a  gilded  copper  ring ;  and  upon  this  bed  were  two 
mattresses,  one  made  of  hair,  two  bolsters,  one  at  the  head, 
the  other  at  the  foot,  no  pillow,  and  two  coverlets,  one  of 
white  cotton,  the  other  of  green  sarsenet,  wadded  and 
quilted;  by  the  side  of  the  bed  two  very  simple  folding- 
seats,  and  at  the  window  short  curtains  of  green  sarsenet. 


226  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

This  room  was  papered  with  rose-colored  paper,  stamped 
with  a  pattern  in  lace-work,  with  an  Etruscan  border. 

Opposite  the  bedroom  was  a  similar  chamber,  in  which 
was  a  peculiar  kind  of  telescope  which  had  cost  twelve 
thousand  francs.  This  instrument  was  about  four  feet 
long,  and  about  a  foot  in  diameter,  and  was  mounted  on 
a  mahogany  support,  with  three  feet,  the  box  in  which  it 
was  kept  being  almost  in  the  shape  of  a  piano.  In  the 
same  room,  upon  two  stools,  was  a  little  square  chest,  which 
contained  three  complete  suits  and  the  linen  which  formed 
the  campaign  wardrobe  of  his  Majesty.  Above  this  was 
a  single  extra  hat,  lined  with  white  satin,  and  much  the 
worse  for  wear;  for  the  Emperor,  as  I  shall  say  later  in 
speaking  of  his  personal  peculiarities,  having  a  very  tender 
scalp,  did  not  like  new  hats,  and  wore  the  same  a  long  time. 

The  main  body  of  the  imperial  barrack  was  divided  into 
three  rooms, — a  saloon,  a  vestibule,  and  a  grand  dining-room, 
which  communicated  with  the  kitchens  by  a  passage  paral- 
lel to  that  I  have  just  mentioned.  Outside  the  barrack, 
and  connected  with  the  kitchen,  was  a  little  shed,  covered 
with  thatch,  which  served  as  a  washroom,  and  which  was 
also  used  as  a  butler's  pantry. 

The  barrack  of  Admiral  Bruix  was  arranged  like  that  of 
the  Emperor,  but  on  a  smaller  scale. 

Near  this  barrack  was  the  semaphore  of  the  signals,  a 
sort  of  marine  telegraph  by  which  the  fleet  was  maneu- 
vered. A  little  farther  on  was  the  Tour  d'Ordre,  with  a 
powerful  battery  composed  of  six  mortars,  six  hovdtzers, 
and  twelve  twenty-four  pounders. 

These  six  mortars,  the  largest  that  had  ever  been 
made,  were  six  inches  thick,  used  forty-five  pounds  of 


THE  CAMP  AT  BOULOGNE.  227 

powder  at  a  charge,  and  threw  bombs  fifteen  hundred 
toises1  in  the  air,  and  a  league  and  a  half  out  to  sea, 
each  bomb  thrown  costing  the  state  three  hundred  francs. 
To  fire  one  of  these  fearful  machines  they  used  port-fires 
twelve  feet  long;  and  the  cannoneer  protected  himself  as 
best  he  could  by  bowing  his  head  between  his  legs,  and 
not  rising  until  after  the  shot  was  fired.  The  Emperor 
decided  to  fire  the  first  bomb  himself. 

To  the  right  of  the  headquarters  battery  was  the  bar- 
rack of  Marshal  Soult,  which  was  constructed  in  imitation 
of  the  hut  of  a  savage,  and  covered  with  thatch  down  to  the 
ground,  with  glass  in  the  top,  and  a  door  through  which 
you  descended  into  the  rooms,  which  were  dug  out  like  cel- 
lars. The  principal  chamber  was  round;  and  in  it  was  a 
large  work-table  covered  with  green  cloth,  and  surrounded 
with  small  leather  folding-chairs. 

The  last  barrack  was  that  of  Decres,  minister  of  the 
navy,  which  was  furnished  like  that  of  Marshal  Soult. 
From  his  barrack  the  Emperor  could  observe  all  the  ma- 
neuvers at  sea ;  and  the  telescope,  of  which  I  have  spoken, 
was  so  good  that  Dover  Castle,  with  its  garrison,  was,  so  to 
speak,  under  the  very  eyes  of  his  Majesty.  The  camp  of 
the  right  wing,  situated  upon  the  cliff,  was  divided  into 
streets,  each  of  which  bore  the  name  of  some  distinguished 
general ;  and  this  cliff  bristled  with  batteries  from  Cologne 
to  Ambleteuse,  a  distance  of  more  than  two  leagues. 

In  order  to  go  from  Boulogne  to  the  camp  of  the  right 
wing,  there  was  only  one  road,  which  began  in  the  Rue  des 
Vieillards,  and  passed  over  the  cliff,  between  the  barrack 

1  A  toise  is  six  feet,  and  a  league  is  three  miles.  A  franc  is  eighteen  and 
three-fifths  cents.  — TKANS. 


228  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  his  Majesty  and  those  of  Bruix,  Soult,  and  Decres,  so 
that  if  at  low  tide  the  Emperor  wished  to  go  down  upon 
the  beach,  a  long  detour  was  necessary.  One  day  when  he 
was  complaining  greatly  of  this,  it  occurred  to  Bonnefoux, 
maritime  prefect  of  Boulogne,  to  apply  to  Sordi,  engineer 
of  military  roads,  and  ascertain  if  it  was  not  possible  to 
remedy  this  great  inconvenience. 

The  engineer  replied  that  it  was  feasible  to  provide  a 
road  for  his  Majesty  directly  from  his  barrack  to  the  beach ; 
but  that  in  view  of  the  great  height  of  the  cliff  it  would  be 
necessary  to  moderate  the  rapidity  of  the  descent  by  making 
the  road  zigzag.  "Make  it  as  you  wish,"  said  the  Emperor, 
"  only  let  it  be  ready  for  use  in  three  days."  The  skillful 
engineer  went  to  work,  and  in  three  days  and  three  nights 
the  road  was  constructed  of  stone,  bound  together  with  iron 
clamps ;  and  the  Emperor,  charmed  with  so  much  diligence 
and  ingenuity,  had  the  name  of  Sordi  placed  on  the  list  for 
the  next  distribution  of  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor, 
but,  owing  to  the  shameful  negligence  of  some  one,  the 
name  of  this  man  of  talent  was  overlooked.  The  port  of 
Boulogne  contained  about  seventeen  hundred  vessels,  such 
as  flatboats,  sloops,  turkish  boats,  gunboats,  prames,  mor- 
tar-boats, etc. ;  and  the  entrance  to  the  port  was  defended 
by  an  enormous  chain,  and  by  four  forts,  two  on  the  right, 
and  two  on  the  left. 

Fort  Musoir,  placed  on  the  left,  was  armed  with  three 
formidable  batteries  ranged  one  above  the  other,  the  lower 
row  bearing  twenty-four  pounders,  the  second  and  third, 
thirty-six  pounders.  On  the  right  of  this  fort  was  the  re- 
volving bridge,  and  behind  this  bridge  an  old  tower  called 
Castle  Croi,  ornamented  with  batteries  which  were  both 


THE  CAMP  AT  BOULOGNE.  229 

handsome  and  effective.  To  the  left,  about  a  quarter  of 
a  league  from  Fort  Musoir,  was  Fort  La  Creche,  projecting 
boldly  into  the  sea,  constructed  of  cut  stone,  and  crowned 
by  a  terrible  battery ;  and  finally,  on  the  right  of  Fort  La 
Creche,  was  the  Fort  en  Bois,  perfectly  manned,  and  pierced 
by  a  large  opening  which  was  uncovered  at  low  tide. 

Upon  the  cliff  to  the  left  of  the  town,  at  nearly  the 
same  elevation  as  the  other,  was  the  camp  of  the  left  wing. 
Here  was  situated  the  barrack  of  Prince  Joseph,  at  that  time 
colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the  line ;  this  barrack 
was  covered  with  thatch.  Below  the  camp,  at  the  foot  of 
the  cliff,  the  Emperor  had  a  basin  hollowed  out,  in  which 
work  a  part  of  the  troops  were  employed. 

It  was  in  this  basin  that  one  day  a  young  soldier  of  the 
Guard,  who  had  stuck  in  the  mud  up  to  his  knees,  tried 
with  all  his  strength  to  pull  out  his  wheelbarrow,  which 
was  even  worse  mired  than  himself ;  but  he  could  not  suc- 
ceed, and  covered  with  sweat,  swore  and  stormed  like  an 
angry  grenadier.  By  chance  lifting  his  eyes,  he  suddenly 
perceived  the  Emperor,  who  was  passing  by  the  works  on 
his  way  to  visit  his  brother  Joseph  in  the  camp  on  the  left. 
The  soldier  looked  at  him  with  a  beseeching  air  and  ges- 
ture, singing  in  a  most  sentimental  tone,  "  Come,  oh,  come, 
to  my  aid."  His  Majesty  could  not  help  smiling,  and  made 
signs  to  the  soldier  to  approach,  which  the  poor  fellow 
did,  after  extricating  himself  with  great  difficulty.  "  What 
is  your  regiment  ?  "  —  "  Sire,  the  First  of  the  Guard."  - 
"  How  long  have  you  been  a  soldier  ?  "  —  "  Since  you  have 
been  Emperor,  Sire."  -  —  "  Indeed,  that  is  not  a  long  time ! 
It  is  not  long  enough  for  me  to  make  you  an  officer,  is 
it?  But  conduct  yourself  well,  and  I  will  have  you  made 


230  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

sergeant-major.  After  that,  the  cross  and  epaulets  on 
the  first  battlefield.  Are  you  content  ?  "  —  "  Yes,  Sire."  — 
"  Chief  of  Staff,"  continued  the  Emperor,  addressing  Gen- 
eral Berthier,  "take  the  name  of  this  young,  man.  You 
will  give  him  three  hundred  francs  to  clean  his  pantaloons 
and  repair  his  wheelbarrow."  And  his  Majesty  rode  on 
in  the  midst  of  the  acclamations  of  the  soldiers. 

At  the  inside  extremity  of  the  port,  there  was  a  wooden 
bridge  which  they  called  the  Service  bridge.  The  powder 
magazines  were  behind  it,  containing  an  immense  amount 
of  ammunition ;  and  after  nightfall  no  one  was  allowed  to 
go  upon  this  bridge  without  giving  the  countersign  to  the 
second  sentinel,  for  the  first  always  allowed  him  to  pass. 
He  was  not  allowed  to  pass  back  again,  however ;  for  if 
any  person  entering  the  bridge  was  ignorant  of  the  counter- 
sign, or  had  happened  to  forget  it,  he  was  stopped  by  the 
second  sentinel,  and  the  first  sentinel  at  the  head  of  the 
bridge  had  express  orders  to  pass  his  bayonet  through  the 
body  of  the  rash  man  if  he  was  unable  to  answer  the  ques- 
tions of  this  last  sentinel.  These  rigorous  precautions  were 
rendered  necessary  by  the  vicinity  of  these  terrible  powder 
magazines,  which  a  single  spark  might  blow  up,  and  with  it 
the  town,  the  fleet,  and  the  two  camps. 

At  night  the  port  was  closed  with  the  big  chain  I  have 
mentioned,  and  the  wharves  were  picketed  by  sentinels 
placed  fifteen  paces  from  each  other.  Each  quarter  of  an 
hour  they  called,  "  Sentinels,  look  out !"  And  the  soldiers  of 
the  marine,  placed  in  the  topsails,  replied  to  this  by,  "  All's 
well,"  pronounced  in  a  drawling,  mournful  tone.  Nothing 
could  be  more  monotonous  or  depressing  than  this  continual 
murmur,  this  lugubrious  mingling  of  voices  all  in  the  same 


THE  CAMP  AT  BOULOGNE.  231 

tone,  especially  as  those  making  these  cries  endeavored  to 
make  them  as  inspiring  as  possible. 

Women  not  residing  in  Boulogne  were  prohibited  from 
remaining  there  without  a  special  permit  from  the  minister 
of  police.  This  measure  had  been  judged  necessary  on 
account  of  the  army;  for  otherwise  each  soldier  perhaps 
would  have  brought  a  woman  to  Boulogne,  and  the  disorder 
would  have  been  indescribable.  Strangers  were  admitted 
into  the  town  with  great  difficulty. 

In  spite  of  all  these  precautions,  spies  from  the  English 
fleet  each  day  penetrated  into  Boulogne.  When  they  were 
discovered  no  quarter  was  given ;  and  notwithstanding  this, 
emissaries  who  had  landed,  no  one  knew  where,  came  each 
evening  to  the  theater,  and  carried  their  imprudence  so  far 
as  to  write  their  opinion  of  the  actors  and  actresses,  whom 
they  designated  by  name,  and  to  post  these  writings  on  the 
walls  of  the  theater,  thus  defying  the  police.  One  day 
there  were  found  on  the  shore  two  little  boats  covered 
with  tarpaulin,  which  these  gentry  probably  used  in  their 
clandestine  excursions. 

In  June,  1804,  eight  Englishmen,  perfectly  well  dressed, 
in  white  silk  stockings,  etc.,  were  arrested,  and  on  them 
was  found  sulphurated  apparatus  with  which  they  had  in- 
tended to  burn  the  fleet.  They  were  shot  within  an  hour, 
without  any  form  of  trial. 

There  were  also  traitors  in  Boulogne.  A  schoolmaster, 
the  secret  agent  of  Lords  Keith  and  Melville,  was  surprised 
one  morning  on  the  cliff  above  the  camp  of  the  right  wing, 
making  telegraphic  signals  with  his  arms ;  and  being  ar- 
rested almost  in  the  act  by  the  sentinels,  he  protested  his 
innocence,  and  tried  to  turn  the  incident  into  a  jest,  but 


232  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  papers  were  searched,  and  correspondence  with  the 
English  found,  which  clearly  proved  his  guilt.  He  was  de- 
livered to  the  council  of  war,  and  shot  the  next  day. 

One  evening  between  eleven  o'clock  and  midnight,  a 
fire-ship,  rigged  like  a  French  ship,  flying  French  colors,  and 
in  every  respect  resembling  a  gunboat,  advanced  towards 
the  line  of  battle  and  passed  through.  By  unpardonable 
negligence  the  chain  had  not  been  stretched  that  evening. 
This  fire-ship  was  followed  by  a  second,  which  exploded, 
striking  a  sloop,  which  went  down  with  it.  This  explosion 
gave  the  alarm  to  the  whole  fleet ;  and  lights  instantly  shone 
in  every  direction,  revealing  the  first  fire-ship  advancing 
between  the  jetties,  a  sight  which  was  witnessed  with  in- 
expressible anxiety.  Three  or  four  pieces  of  wood  con- 
nected by  cables  fortunately  stopped  her  progress ;  but  she 
blew  up  with  such  a  shock  that  the  glasses  of  all  the  win- 
dows in  town  were  shattered,  and  a  great  number  of  the 
inhabitants,  who  for  want  of  beds  were  sleeping  upon 
tables,  were  thrown  to  the  floor,  and  awakened  by  the  fall 
without  comprehending  what  had  happened.  In  ten  min- 
utes everybody  was  stirring,  as  it  was  thought  that  the 
I^nglish  were  in  the  port;  and  there  ensued  such  confu- 
sion, such  a  mingled  tumult  of  noises  and  screams,  that 
no  one  could  make  himself  understood,  until  criers  pre- 
ceded by  drums  were  sent  through  the  town  to  reassure 
the  inhabitants,  and  inform  them  that  all  danger  was 
past. 

The  next  day  songs  were  composed  on  this  nocturnal 
alarm,  and  were  soon  in  every  mouth.  I  have  preserved 
one,  which  I  copy  here,  and  which  the  soldiers  sang  long 
afterwards. 


THE  PIKE-SHIPS.  233 

For  a  long  time  Britain, 

Imitating  the  mountain, 

Has  menaced  the  continent 

With  a  terrible  event. 

In  the  darkness  of  mystery 

Twenty  monsters l  she  brought  forth. 

Pitt  cried,  "  I  am  their  father," 

And  no  one  doubted  it. 

Soon  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
Melville  2  launches  upon  the  wave 
All  these  new-born  monsters, 
Destined  for  Boulogne. 
Lord  Keith,  like  a  good  nurse, 
Keeps  them  concealed  in  his  bosom. 
The  tide  is  propitious  to  him, 
And  the  children  are  turned  loose. 

The  Frenchman,  ever  on  the  watch, 

Towards  the  noise  bends  his  ear  ; 

But  he  did  not  suspect 

His  neighbors  were  such  scoundrels. 

His  guardian  star  shines  in  his  eyes. 

Danger  enlightens  him 

While  lighting  its  fires. 

This  accursed  family 

Approaches  the  flotilla. 

In  expiring  it  makes 

Much  noise,  little  harm. 

The  marks  that  it  has  left 

Of  its  brilliant  valor 

Are  some  broken  window-panes, 

And  the  shame  of  the  author. 

Mr.  Pitt,  upon  your  shores 
You  defy  our  courage, 

1  It  had  been  known  for  a  long  time  that  the  enemy  had  twenty  fire- 
ships  destined  to  destroy  our  flotilla.  —  CONSTANT. 

2  The  English  fleet  was  commanded  by  Lord  Melville  and  Lord  Keith. 
—  CONSTANT. 


234  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

Well  convinced  that  never 
Will  you  see  there  the  French. 
You  rely  upon  the  distance, 
Tour  vessels  and  your  yeomen, 
But  the  soldiers  of  France 
Will  make  you  reconsider  all  that. 

In  our  swift  sloops, 
The  wind  becoming  docile, 
Retaining  you  in  your  ports, 
We  will  land  upon  your  shores; 
Forcing  you  to  an  equal  fight, 
You  shall  see  that  our  soldiers 
Have  the  infernal  machine 
Placed  at  their  finger-ends. 

Another  alarm,  but  of  an  entirely  different  kind,  upset 
all  Boulogne  in  the  autumn  of  1804.  About  eight  o'clock 
in  the  evening  a  chimney  caught  fire  on  the  right  of  the 
port ;  and  the  light  of  this  fire,  shining  through  the  masts  of 
the  flotilla,  alarmed  the  commandant  of  a  post  on  the  oppo- 
site shore.  At  this  time  all  the  vessels  had  powder  and 
ammunition  on  board;  and  the  poor  commandant,  beside 
himself  with  terror,  cried,  "  Boys,  the  fleet  is  on  fire ;  "  and 
immediately  had  the  alarm  beaten.  The  frightful  news 
spread  like  lightning ;  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  more 
than  sixty  thousand  men  appeared  upon  the  wharves,  the 
tocsin  was  sounded  in  all  the  churches,  the  forts  fired  alarm 
guns,  while  drums  and  trumpets  sounded  along  the  streets, 
the  whole  making  an  infernal  tumult. 

The  Emperor  was  at  headquarters  when  this  terrible 
cry,  "  The  fleet  is  on  fire,"  came  to  his  ears.  "  It  is  im- 
possible !  "  he  immediately  exclaimed,  but,  nevertheless, 
rushed  out  instantly. 

On  entering  the  town,  what  a  frightful  spectacle  we 


THE  FALSE  ALARM.  235 

beheld.  Women  in  tears,  holding  their  children  in  their 
arms,  ran  like  lunatics,  uttering  cries  of  despair,  while 
men  abandoned  their  houses,  carrying  off  whatever  was 
most  valuable,  running  against  and  knocking  each  other 
over  in  the  darkness.  On  all  sides  was  heard,  "  Sauve  qui 
pent;  we  are  going  to  be  blown  up,  we  are  all  lost;"  and  the 
maledictions,  lamentations,  blasphemies,  were  sufficient  to 
make  your  hair  stand  on  end. 

The  aides-de-camp  of  his  Majesty  and  those  of  Mar- 
shal Soult  galloped  in  every  direction,  forcing  their  way 
through  the  crowds,  stopping  the  drummers,  and  asking 
them,  "Why  do  you  beat  the  alarm?  Who  has  ordered  you 
to  beat  the  alarm ?  "  — ."  We  don't  know,"  they  replied;  and 
the  drums  continued  to  beat,  while  the  tumult  kept  on  in- 
creasing, and  the  crowd  rushed  to  the  gates,  struck  by  a 
terror  which  a  moment's  reflection  would  have  dissipated. 
But,  unfortunately,  fear  gives  no  time  for  reflection. 

It  is  true,  however,  that  a  considerable  number  of  in- 
habitants, less  excitable  than  these  I  have  described,  re- 
mained quietly  at  home,  well  knowing  that  if  the  fleet  had 
really  been  on  fire,  there  would  have  been  no  time  to  give 
an  alarm.  These  persons  made  every  effort  to  quiet  the 

excited  crowd.     Madame  F ,  the  very  pretty  and  very 

amiable  wife  of  a  clockmaker,  was  in  her  kitchen  making 
preparations  for  supper,  when  a  neighbor,  thoroughly 
frightened,  entered,  and  said  to  her,  "  Save  yourself  Ma- 
dame; you  have  not  a  moment  to  lose!"  —"What  is  the 
matter?  "  —  " The  fleet  is  on  fire ! "  —  "  Ah-pshaw ! "  —  "  Fly 
then,  Madame,  fly!  I  tell  you  the  fleet  is  on  fire."  And 
the  neighbor  took  Madame  F—  -  by  the  arm,  and  en- 
deavored to  pull  her  along.  Madame  F—  -  held  at  the 


236  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

moment  a  frying-pan  in  which  she  was  cooking  some  frit- 
ters. "Take  care;  you  will  make  me  burn  my  fritters," 
said  she,  laughing.  And  with  a  few  half  serious,  half  jest- 
ing words  she  reassured  the  poor  fellow,  who  ended  by 
laughing  at  himself. 

At  last  the  tumult  was  appeased,  and  to  this  great  fright 
a  profound  calm  succeeded.  No  explosion  had  been  heard ; 
and  they  saw  that  it  must  have  been  a  false  alarm,  so  each 
returned  home,  thinking  no  longer  of  the  fire,  but  agitated 
by  another  fear.  The  robbers  may  have  profited  by  the 
absence  of  the  inhabitants  to  pillage  the  houses,  but  as  luck 
would  have  it  no  mischance  of  this  kind  had  taken  place. 

The  next  day  the  poor  commandant  who  had  so  inop- 
portunely taken  and  given  the  alarm  was  brought  before 
the  council  of  war.  He  was  guilty  of  no  intentional  wrong ; 
but  the  law  was  explicit,  and  he  was  condemned  to  death. 
His  judges,  however,  recommended  him  to  the  mercy  of 
the  Emperor,  who  pardoned  him. 


DISTRIBUTION   OF  CROSSES   OF  HONOR.  237 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Distribution  of  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  in  the  camp  of  Boulogne.  — 
The  helmet  of  Duguesclin.  —  Prince  Joseph,  colonel. — Military  fete. — 
Racing  with  launches  and  on  horseback.  —  Jealousy  of  a  council  of  supe- 
rior officers. — Justice  done  by  the  Emperor.  —  Unfortunate  fall,  fol- 
lowed by  a  triumph.  —  Petition  at  close  range.  —  The  minister  of  the 
navy  falls  into  the  water.  —  Hilarity  of  the  Emperor.  —  The  gluttonous 
general.  — The  ball. —The  boulangere  danced  by  the  Emperor  and  Ma- 
dame Bertram!.  —  The  Boulognese  at  the  ball.  —The  macaroons  and  ridi- 
cule.—The  wife  of  Marshal  Soult  queen  of  the  ball.  — The  beautiful 
suppliant. — The  magazine  guard  condemned  to  death. —  Clemency  of 
the  Emperor. 

MANY  of  the  brave  soldiers  who  composed  the  army 
of  Boulogne  had  earned  the  cross  (of  the  Legion  of 
Honor)  in  these  last  campaigns ;  and  his  Majesty  desired 
that  this  distribution  should  be  made  an  impressive  oc- 
casion, which  should  long  be  remembered.  He  chose  the 
day  after  his  fete,  Aug.  16,  1804.  Never  has  there  been 
in  the  past,  nor  can  there  be  in  the  future,  a  more  impos- 
ing spectacle. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  more  than  eighty  thou- 
sand men  left  the  four  camps,  —  at  their  head  drums  beat- 
ing and  bands  playing,  —  and  advanced  by  divisions 
towards  the  "Hubertmill"  field,  which  was  on  the  cliff 
beyond  the  camp  of  the  right  wing.  On  this  plain  an 
immense  platform  had  been  erected,  about  fifteen  feet  above 
the  ground,  and  with  its  back  toward  the  sea.  It  was 
reached  by  three  flights  of  richly  carpeted  steps,  situated  in 
the  middle  and  on  each  side.  From  the  stage  thus  formed, 


238  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

about  forty  feet  square,  rose  three  other  platforms,  the 
central  one  bearing  the  imperial  armchair,  decorated  with 
trophies  and  banners,  while  that  on  the  left  held  seats  for 
the  brothers  of  the  Emperor,  and  for  the  grand  dignita- 
ries, and  that  on  the  right  bore  a  tripod  of  antique  form, 
surmounted  by  a  helmet  (the  helmet  of  Duguesclin,  I 
think),  covered  with  crosses  and  ribbons.  By  the  side  of 
the  tripod  had  been  placed  a  seat  for  the  arch-chancellor. 

About  three  hundred  steps  from  the  throne,  the  land 
rose  in  a  slight  and  almost  circular  ascent;  and  on  this 
ascent  the  troops  were  arranged  as  in  an  amphitheater. 
To  the  right  of  the  throne,  on  an  eminence,  were  placed 
sixty  or  eighty  tents  made  of  naval  flags ;  these  tents  were 
intended  for  the  ladies  of  the  city,  and  made  a  charming 
picture,  but  they  were  so  far  from  the  throne  that  the 
spectators  who  filled  them  were  obliged  to  use  glasses. 
Between  these  tents  and  the  throne  a  part  of  the  Imperial 
Guard  was  ranged  in  line  of  battle. 

The  weather  was  perfect ;  there  was  not  a  cloud  in  the 
sky;  the  English  cruisers  had  disappeared;  and  on  the  sea 
could  be  seen  only  our  line  of  vessels  handsomely  deco- 
rated with  flags. 

At  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  discharge  of  artillery 
announced  the  departure  of  the  Emperor ;  and  his  Majesty 
left  his  barrack,  surrounded  by  more  than  eighty  gen- 
erals and  two  hundred  aides-de-camp,  all  his  household  fol- 
lowing him.  The  Emperor  was  dressed  in  the  uniform  of 
the  colonel-general  of  the  infantry  of  the  guard.  He  rode 
at  a  gallop  to  the  foot  of  the  throne,  in  the  midst  of  uni- 
versal acclamations  and  the  most  deafening  uproar  made 
by  drums,  trumpets,  and  cannon,  beating,  blowing,  and 
roaring  all  together. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  CROSSES  OF  HONOR.  239 

His  Majesty  mounted  the  throne,  followed  by  his 
brothers  and  the  grand  dignitaries ;  and  when  he  was 
seated  each  one  took  his  designated  place,  and  the  distri- 
bution of  the  crosses  began  in  the  following  manner :  — 

An  aide-de-camp  of  the  Emperor  called  by  name  the 
soldiers  to  be  honored,  who  one  by  one  stopped  at  the  foot 
of  the  throne,  bowed,  and  mounted  the  steps  on  the  right. 
There  they  were  received  by  the  arch-chancellor,  who  de- 
livered to  them  their  commissions ;  and  two  pages,  placed 
between  the  Emperor  and  the  tripod,  took  the  decoration 
from  the  helmet  of  Duguesclin,  and  handed  it  to  his 
Majesty,  who  fastened  it  himself  on  the  breast  of  the 
brave  fellow.  Instantly  more  than  eight  hundred  drums 
beat  a  tattoo  ;  and  when  the  soldier  thus  decorated  de- 
scended from  the  throne  by  the  steps  on  the  left,  as  he 
passed  before  the  brilliant  staff  of  the  Emperor  a  burst  of 
music  from  more  than  twelve  hundred  musicians  signaled 
the  return  to  his  company  of  the  Knight  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  cry  of  Vive 
VEmpereur  was  repeated  twice  at  each  decoration. 

The  distribution  began  at  ten  o'clock,  and  ended  about 
three.  Then,  according  to  orders  borne  by  the  aides-de- 
camp to  the  divisions,  a  volley  of  artillery  was  heard,  and 
eighty  thousand  men  advanced  in  close  columns  to  within 
twenty  or  thirty  steps  of  the  throne.  The  most  profound 
silence  succeeded  the  noise  of  drums  ;  and,  the  Emperor 
having  given  his  orders,  the  troops  executed  maneuvers 
for  about  an  hour,  at  the  end  of  which  each  division  defiled 
before  the  throne  as  they  returned  to  the  camp.  Each  chief, 
on  passing,  saluted  by  lowering  the  point  of  his  sword. 
Specially  noticeable  among  them  was  Prince  Joseph,  newly 


240  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

appointed  colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the  line,  who 
made  his  brother  a  salute  more  graceful  than  military.  The 
Emperor  frowned  slightly  at  the  somewhat  critical  remarks 
which  his  old  companions  in  arms  seemed  inclined  to  make 
on  this  subject ;  but  except  for  this  slight  cloud,  the  counte- 
nance of  his  Majesty  was  never  more  radiant. 

Just  as  the  troops  were  filing  off,  the  wind,  which  for 
two  or  three  hours  had  been  blowing  violently,  became  a 
perfect  gale,  and  an  orderly  officer  came  in  haste  to  inform 
his  Majesty  that  four  or  five  gunboats  had  just  been  driven 
ashore.  The  Emperor  at  once  left  the  plain  at  a  gallop, 
followed  by  some  of  the  marshals,  and  took  his  position  on 
the  shore  until  the  crews  of  the  gunboats  were  saved,  and 
the  Emperor  then  returned  to  the  Pont  des  Briques. 

This  immense  army  could  not  regain  its  quarters  before 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  next  day  the  camp  of 
the  left  wing  gave  a  military  fete,  at  which  the  Emperor 
was  present. 

From  early  in  the  morning,  launches  mounted  on  wheels 
ran  at  full  speed  through  the  streets  of  the  camp,  driven 
by  a  favorable  wind.  Officers  amused  themselves  riding 
after  them  at  a  gallop,  and  rarely  overtaking  them.  This 
exercise  lasted  an  hour  or  two;  but,  the  wind  having 
changed,  the  launches  upset,  amid  shouts  of  laughter. 

This  was  followed  by  a  horseback  race,  the  prize  being 
twelve  hundred  francs.  A  lieutenant  of  dragoons,  very 
popular  in  his  company,  asked  as  a  favor  to  be  allowed  to 
compete ;  but  the  haughty  council  of  superior  officers  re- 
fused to  admit  him,  under  the  pretext  that  his  rank  was 
not  sufficiently  high,  but,  in  reality,  because  he  had  the 
reputation  of  being  a  splendid  horseman.  Stung  to  the 


MILITARY  FETE  AT  BOULOGNE.  241 

quick  by  this  unjust  refusal,  the  lieutenant  of  dragoons 
applied  to  the  Emperor,  who  gave  him  permission  to  race 
with  the  others,  after  having  learned  that  this  brave  officer 
supported  by  his  own  exertions  a  numerous  family,  and  that 
his  conduct  was  irreproachable. 

At  a  given  signal  the  races  began.  The  lieutenant  of 
dragoons  soon  passed  his  antagonists,  and  had  almost 
reached  the  goal,  when,  by  an  unfortunate  mischance,  a 
little  poodle  ran  between  the  legs  of  his  horse,  and  threw 
him  down.  An  aide-de-camp  who  came  immediately  after 
was  proclaimed  victor.  The  lieutenant  picked  himself  up 
as  well  as  he  could,  and  was  preparing,  very  sadly,  to  retire, 
somewhat  consoled  by  the  signs  of  interest  which  the 
spectators  manifested,  when  the  Emperor  summoned  him, 
and  said,  "  You  deserve  the  prize,  and  you  shall  have  it;  I 
make  you  captain."  And  addressing  himself  to  the  grand 
marshal  of  the  palace,  "  You  will  pay  twelve  hundred  francs 
to  the  Captain  -  '  (the  name  does  not  occur  to  me), 
while  all  cried,  "  Vive  Vempereur"  and  congratulated  the 
new  captain  on  his  lucky  fall. 

In  the  evening  there  were  fireworks,  which  could  be 
seen  from  the  coast  of  England.  Thirty  thousand  soldiers 
executed  all  sorts  of  maneuvers,  firing  sky-rockets  from 
their  guns.  The  crowning  piece,  which  represented  the 
arms  of  the  Empire,  was  so  fine  that  for  five  minutes 
Boulogne,  the  country,  and  all  the  coast,  were  lighted  up 
as  if  it  were  broad  daylight. 

A  few  days  after  these  fetes,  as  the  Emperor  was  pass- 
ing from  one  camp  to  the  other,  a  sailor  who  was  watching 
for  him  in  order  to  hand  him  a  petition  was  obliged,  as  the 
rain  was  falling  in  torrents,  and  he  was  afraid  of  spoiling 


242  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  sheet  of  paper,  to  place  himself  under  shelter  in  an 
isolated  barrack  on  the  shore,  used  to  store  rigging.  He 
had  been  waiting  a  long  time,  and  was  wet  to  the  skin, 
when  he  saw  the  Emperor  coming  from  the  camp  of  the 
left  wing  at  a  gallop.  Just  as  his  Majesty,  still  gallop- 
ing, was  about  to  pass  before  the  barrack,  the  brave  sailor, 
who  was  on  the  lookout,  sprang  suddenly  from  his  hiding- 
place,  and  threw  himself  before  the  Emperor,  holding  out 
his  petition  in  the  attitude  of  a  fencing-master  defending 
himself.  The  Emperor's  horse,  startled  by  this  sudden 
apparition,  stopped  short;  and  his  Majesty,  taken  by  sur- 
prise, gave  the  sailor  a  disapproving  glance,  and  passed  on 
without  taking  the  petition  which  was  offered  him  in  so 
unusual  a  manner. 

It  was  on  this  day,  I  think,  that  Monsieur  Decres, 
minister  of  the  navy,  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  into  the 
water,  to  the  very  great  amusement  of  his  Majesty.  To 
enable  the  Emperor  to  pass  from  the  quay  to  a  gunboat, 
there  had  been  a  single  plank  thrown  from  the  boat  to  the 
quay.  Napoleon  passed,  or  rather  leaped,  over  this  light 
bridge,  and  was  received  on  board  in  the  arms  of  a  soldier 
of  the  guard;  but  M.  Decres,  more  stout,  and  less  active 
than  the  Emperor,  advanced  carefully  over  the  plank  that 
he  found  to  his  horror  was  bending  under  his  feet,  until 
just  as  he  arrived  in  the  middle,  the  weight  of  his  body 
broke  the  plank,  and  the  minister  of  the  navy  was  precipi- 
tated into  the  water,  midway  between  the  quay  and  the 
boat.  His  Majesty  turned  at  the  noise  that  M.  Decres 
made  in  falling,  and  leaning  over  the  side  of  the  boat, 
exclaimed,  "  What !  Is  that  our  minister  of  the  navy  who 
has  allowed  himself  to  fall  in  the  water?  Is  it  possible  it 


THE  BALL   GIVEN  BY  TUE  GENERALS.  243 

can  be  he  ? "  The  Emperor  during  this  speech  laughed 
most  uproariously.  Meanwhile,  two  or  three  sailors  were 
engaged  in  getting  M.  Decres  out  of  his  embarrassing  posi- 
tion. He  was  with  much  difficulty  hoisted  on  the  sloop, 
in  a  sad  state,  as  may  be  believed,  vomiting  water  through 
his  nose,  mouth,  and  ears,  and  thoroughly  ashamed  of  his 
accident,  which  the  Emperor's  jokes  contributed  to  render 
still  more  exasperating. 

Towards  the  end  of  our  stay  the  generals  gave  a  mag- 
nificent ball  to  the  ladies  of  the  city,  at  which  the  Emperor 
was  present. 

For  this  purpose  a  temporary  hall  had  been  erected, 
which  was  tastefully  decorated  with  garlands,  flags,  and 
tropliies. 

General  Bertrand  was  appointed  master  of  ceremonies 
by  his  colleagues ;  and  General  Bisson l  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  buffet,  which  employment  suited  General  Bisson 
perfectly,  for  he  was  the  greatest  glutton  in  camp,  and 
his  enormous  stomach  interfered  greatly  with  his  walking. 
He  drank  •  not  less  than  six  or  seven  bottles  of  wine  at 
dinner,  and  never  alone ;  for  it  was  a  punishment  to  him 
not  to  talk  while  eating,  consequently  he  usually  invited  his 
aides-de-camp,  whom,  through  malice  no  doubt,  he  chose 
always  from  among  the  most  delicate  and  abstemious  in  the 
army.  The  buffet  was  worthy  of  the  one  who  had  it  in 
charge. 

The  orchestra  was  composed  of  musicians  from  twenty 
regiments,  who  played  in  turn.  But  on  the  opening  of  the 
ball  the  entire  orchestra  executed  a  triumphal  march,  dur- 

1  Count  P.  F.  J.  G.  Bisson,  born  at  Montpellier,  17(57 ;  served  in  the  Prus- 
sian campaign,  1807;  created  count,  1808;  died  1811.  —  TRANS. 


244  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ing  which  the  aides-de-camp,  most  elegantly  attired,  received 
the  ladies  invited,  and  presented  them  with  bouquets. 

In  order  to  be  admitted  to  this  ball,  it  was  necessary  to 
have  at  least  the  rank  of  commandant.  It  is  impossible  to 
give  an  idea  of  the  scene  presented  by  this  multitude  of 
uniforms,  each  vying  in  brilliancy  with  the  other.  The 
fifty  or  sixty  generals  who  gave  the  ball  had  ordered  from 
Paris  magnificently  embroidered  uniforms,  and  the  group 
they  formed  around  his  Majesty  as  he  entered  glittered 
with  gold  and  diamonds.  The  Emperor  remained  an  hour 
at  this  fete,  and  danced  the  Boulangere  with  Madame  Ber- 
trand.  He  wore  the  uniform  of  colonel-general  of  the 
cavalry  of  the  guard. 

The  wife  of  Marshal  Soult  was  queen  of  the  ball.  She 
wore  a  black  velvet  dress  besprinkled  with  the  kind  of 
diamonds  called  rhinestones. 

At  midnight  a  splendid  supper  was  served,  the  prepara- 
tion of  which  General  Bisson  had  superintended,  which 
is  equivalent  to  saying  that  nothing  was  wanting  thereto. 

The  ladies  of  Boulogne,  who  had  never  attended  such 
a  fete,  were  filled  with  amazement,  and  when  supper  was 
served  advised  each  other  to  fill  up  their  reticules  with 
dainties  and  sweets.  They  would  have  carried  away,  I 
think,  the  hall,  with  the  musicians  and  dancers;  and  for 
more  than  a  month  this  ball  was  the  only  subject  of  their 
conversation. 

About  this  time  his  Majesty  was  riding  on  horseback 
near  his  barracks,  when  a  pretty  young  girl  of  fifteen  or 
sixteen,  dressed  in  white,  her  face  bathed  in  tears,  threw 
herself  on  her  knees  in  his  path.  The  Emperor  imme- 
diately alighted  from  his  horse,  and  assisted  her  to  rise, 


CLEMENCY  OF  THE  EMPERO1L  245 

asking  most  compassionately  what  he  could  do  for  her. 
The  poor  girl  had  come  to  entreat  the  pardon  of  her 
father,  a  storekeeper  in  the  commissary  department,  who 
had  l>een  condemned  to  the  galleys  for  grave  crimes.  His 
Majesty  could  not  resist  the  many  charms  of  the  youthful 
suppliant,  and  the  pardon  was  granted. 


246  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Popularity  of  the  Emperor  at  Boulogne.  —  His  fatal  obstinacy.  —  Firmness  of 
Admiral  Bruix. — The  Emperor's  riding-whip  and  the  admiral's  sword. 

—  Unjust  exile.  —  Tempest  and  shipwreck.  —  Courage  of  the  Emperor.  — 
The  corpses  and  the  little  hat.  —  Infallible  means  of  stifling  murmurs. 

—  The  drummer  saved  on  his  drum.  —  Dialogue  between  two  sailors.  — 
False  embarkment.  —  Proclamation.  —  Column  of  the  camp  of  Boulogne. 

—  Departure  of  the  Emperor. — Accounts  to  be  investigated.  —  Objec- 
tions made  by  the  Emperor  to  paying  the  expenses  of  furnishing  his 
barracks.  —  Flattery  of  a  creditor.  —  The  account  of  the  engineer  paid  in 
rix  dollars  and  frederics.  —  Journey  to  Belgium. — Leave  for  twenty-four 
hours.  — The  inhabitants  of  Alost.  —  Warm  reception  to  Constant.  —  He 
is  feted  in  honor  of  his  master.  —  The  Emperor's  kindness  to  him. 

AT  Boulogne,  as  everywhere  else,  the  Emperor  well 
knew  how  to  win  all  hearts  by  his  moderation,  his  justice, 
and  the  generous  grace  with  which  he  acknowledged  the 
least  service.  All  the  inhabitants  of  Boulogne,  even  all 
the  peasants  of  the  suburbs,  would  have  died  for  him,  and 
the  smallest  particulars  relating  to  him  were  constantly 
repeated.  One  day,  however,  his  conduct  gave  rise  to 
serious  complaints,  and  he  was  unanimously  blamed;  for 
his  injustice  was  the  cause  of  a  terrible  tragedy.  I  will 
now  relate  this  sad  event,  an  authentic  account  of  which 
I  have  never  seen  in  print. 

One  morning,  as  he  mounted  his  horse,  the  Emperor  an- 
nounced that  he  would  that  day  review  the  naval  forces, 
and  gave  orders  that  the  boats  which  occupied  the  line  of 
defense  should  leave  their  position,  as  he  intended  to  hold 
the  review  in  the  open  sea.  He  set  out  with  Roustan  for 


THE  EMPEROR'S  FATAL   OBSTINACY.  247 

his  morning  ride,  and  expressed  a  wish  that  all  should  be 
ready  on  his  return,  the  hour  of  which  he  designated. 
Every  one  knew  that  the  slightest  wish  of  the  Emperor 
was  law ;  and  the  order  was  transmitted,  during  his  absence, 
to  Admiral  Bruix,  who  replied  with  imperturbable  sang 
froid,  that  he  much  regretted  it,  but  the  review  would  not 
take  place  that  day,  and  in  consequence  no  boat  stirred. 

On  his  return  from  his  ride,  the  Emperor  asked  if 
everything  was  ready,  and  the  admiral's  answer  was  reported 
to  him.  Astonished  by  its  tone,  so  different  from  what 
he  was  accustomed  to,  he  had  it  repeated  to  him  twice, 
and  then,  with  a  violent  stamp  of  his  foot,  ordered  the 
admiral  to  be  summoned.  He  obeyed  instantly ;  but  the 
Emperor,  thinking  he  did  not  come  quickly  enough,  met 
him  half-way  from  his  barracks.  The  staff  followed  his 
Majesty,  and  placed  themselves  silently  around  him,  while 
his  eyes  shot  lightning. 

"Admiral  Bruix,"  said  the  Emperor  in  a  tone  show- 
ing great  excitement,  "why  have  you  not  obeyed  my 
orders  ?  " 

"Sire,"  responded  Bruix  with  respectful  firmness,  "a 
terrible  storm  is  gathering.  Your  Majesty  can  see  this  as 
well  as  I ;  are  you  willing  to  uselessly  risk  the  lives  of 
so  many  brave  men?"  In  truth,  the  heaviness  of  the 
atmosphere,  and  the  low  rumbling  which  could  be  heard 
in  the  distance,  justified  only  too  well  the  admiral's  fears. 
"  Monsieur,"  replied  the  Emperor,  more  and  more  irri- 
tated, "  I  gave  the  orders ;  once  again,  why  have  you  not 
executed  them?  The  consequences  concern  me  alone. 
Obey!"  —  "Sire,  I  will  not  obey!"  -"Monsieur,  you 
are  insolent ! "  And  the  Emperor,  who  still  held  his 


248  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

riding-whip  in  his  hand,  advanced  on  the  admiral,  making  a 
threatening  gesture.  Admiral  Braix  retreated  a  step,  and 
placed  his  hand  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword :  "  Sire,"  said  he, 
growing  pale,  "  take  care  ! "  All  those  present  were  para- 
lyzed with  terror.  The  Emperor  remained  for  some  time 
immovable,  with  his  hand  raised,  and  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
admiral,  who  still  maintained  his  defiant  attitude.  At  last 
the  Emperor  threw  his  whip  on  the  ground.  Admiral 
Bruix  relaxed  his  hold  on  his  sword,  and,  with  uncovered 
head,  awaited  in  silence  the  result  of  this  terrible  scene. 

"Rear-admiral  Magon!"  said  the  Emperor,  "you  will 
see  that  the  orders  which  I  have  given  are  executed 
instantly.  As  for  you,  sir,"  continued  he,  turning  to  Ad- 
miral Bruix,  "  you  will  leave  Boulogne  within  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  retire  to  Holland.  Go !  "  His  Majesty 
returned  at  once  to  headquarters ;  some  of  the  officers, 
only  a  small  number,  however,  pressed  in  parting  the  hand 
that  the  admiral  held  out  to  them. 

Rear-admiral  Magon l  immediately  ordered  the  fatal 
movement  commanded  by  the  Emperor ;  but  hardly  had  the 
first  dispositions  been  made  when  the  sea  became  frightful 
to  behold,  the  sky,  covered  with  black  clouds,  was  furrowed 
with  lightning,  the  thunder  roared  incessantly,  and  the 
wind  increased  to  a  gale.  In  fact,  what  Admiral  Bruix 
had  foreseen  occurred ;  a  frightful  tempest  scattered  the 
boats  in  every  direction,  and  rendered  their  condition  des- 
perate. The  Emperor,  anxious  and  uneasy,  with  lowered 
head  and  crossed  arms,  was  striding  up  and  down  the  shore, 
when  suddenly  terrible  cries  were  heard.  More  than  twenty 
gunboats,  filled  with  soldiers  and  sailors,  had  just  been 

i  Born  in  1763,  at  Paris.    Killed  at  Trafalgar,  1805.  —  TRANS. 


BEMTMIIIEIR, 


THE  STORM,  249 

driven  on  the  shore ;  and  the  poor  unfortunates  who  manned 
them,  struggling  against  furious  waves,  were  imploring  help 
which  none  could  venture  to  render.  The  Emperor  was 
deeply  touched  by  this  sight,  while  his  heart  was  torn  by  the 
lamentations  of  an  immense  crowd  which  the  tempest  had 
collected  on  the  shore  and  the  adjoining  cliffs.  He  beheld 
his  generals  and  officers  stand  in  shuddering  horror  around 
him,  and  wishing  to  set  an  example  of  self-sacrifice,  in  spite 
of  all  efforts  made  to  restrain  him,  threw  himself  into  a  life- 
boat, saying,  "  Let  me  alone ;  let  me  alone !  They  must 
be  gotten  out  of  there."  In  an  instant  the  boat  filled  with 
water,  the  waves  dashed  over  it,  and  the  Emperor  was  sub- 
merged, one  wave  stronger  than  the  others  threw  his  Majesty 
on  the  shore,  and  his  hat  was  swept  off. 

Electrified  by  such  courage,  officers,  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
citizens  now  began  to  lend  their  aid,  some  swimming,  others 
in  boats  ;  but,  alas !  they  succeeded  in  saving  only  a  very 
small  number  of  the  unfortunate  men  who  composed  the 
crews  of  the  gunboats,  and  the  next  day  the  sea  cast  upon 
the  shore  more  than  two  hundred  men,  and  with  them  the 
hat  of  the  conqueror  of  Marengo. 

The  next  was  a  day  of  mourning  and  of  grief,  both  in 
Boulogne  and  the  camp.  The  inhabitants  and  soldiers  cov- 
ered the  beach,  searching  anxiously  among  the  bodies  which 
the  waves  incessantly  cast  upon  the  shore  ;  and  the  Emperor 
groaned  over  this  terrible  calamity,  which  in  his  inmost 
heart  he  could  not  fail  to  attribute  to  his  own  obstinacy. 
By  his  orders  agents  entrusted  with  gold  went  through  the 
city  and  camp,  stopping  the  murmurs  which  were  ready  to 
break  forth. 

That  day  I  saw  a  drummer,  who  had  been  among  the 


250  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

crew  of  the  shipwrecked  vessels,  washed  upon  the  shore 
upon  his  drum,  which  he  had  used  as  a  raft.  The  poor 
fellow  had  his  thigh  broken,  and  had  remained  more  than 
twenty  hours  in  that  horrible  condition. 

In  order  to  complete  in  this  place  my  recollections  of  the 
camp  of  Boulogne,  I  will  relate  the  following,  which  did  not 
take  place,  however,  until  the  month  of  August,  1805,  after 
the  return  of  the  Emperor  from  his  journey  to  Italy,  where 
he  had  been  crowned. 

Soldiers  and  sailors  were  burning  with  impatience  to 
embark  for  England,  but  the  moment  so  ardently  desired  was 
still  delayed.  Every  evening  they  said  to  themselves,  "  To- 
morrow there  will  be  a  good  wind,  there  will  also  be  a  fog, 
and  we  shall  start,"  and  lay  down  with  that  hope,  but  arose 
each  day  to  find  either  an  unclouded  sky  or  rain. 

One  evening,  however,  when  a  favorable  wind  was  blow- 
ing, I  heard  two  sailors  conversing  together  on  the  wharf, 
and  making  conjectures  as  to  the  future.  "  The  Emperor 
would  do  well  to  start  to-morrow  morning,"  said  one  ;  "  he 
will  never  have  better  weather,  and  there  will  surely  be  a 
fog."  —  "Bah!"  said  the  other,  "only  he  does  not  think  so. 
We  have  now  waited  more  than  fifteen  days,  and  the  fleet 
has  not  budged;  however,  all  the  ammunition  is  on  board, 
and  with  one  blast  of  the  whistle  we  can  put  to  sea." 

The  night  sentinels  came  on,  and  the  conversation  of  the 
old  sea-wolves  stopped  there ;  but  I  soon  had  to  acknowl- 
edge that  their  nautical  experience  had  not  deceived  them. 
In  fact,  by  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  light  fog  was 
spread  over  the  sea,  which  was  somewhat  stormy,  the  wind 
of  the  evening  before  began  to  blow  again,  and  at  daylight 
the  fog  was  so  thick  as  to  conceal  the  fleet  from  the  Eng- 


FALSE  EMBAEKMENT.  251 

lish,  while  the  most  profound  silence  reigned  everywhere. 
No  hostile  sails  had  been  signaled  through  the  night,  and, 
as  the  sailors  had  predicted,  everything  favored  the  descent. 
At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  signals  were  made  from  the 
semaphore ;  and  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  all  the  sailors 
were  in  motion,  and  the  port  resounded  with  cries  of  joy,  for 
the  order  to  depart  had  just  been  received.  While  the  sails 
were  being  hoisted,  the  long  roll  was  beaten  in  the  four 
camps,  and  the  order  was  given  for  the  entire  army  to  take 
arms ;  and  they  marched  rapidly  into  the  town,  hardly  be- 
lieving what  they  had  just  heard.  "  We  are  really  going  to 
start,"  said  all  the  soldiers ;  "  we  are  actually  going  to  say 
a  few  words  to  those  Englishmen,"  and  the  joy  which  ani- 
mated them  burst  forth  in  acclamations,  which  were  silenced 
by  a  roll  of  the  drums.  The  embarkation  then  took  place 
amid  profound  silence,  and  in  such  perfect  order  that  I 
can  hardly  give  an  idea  of  it.  At  seven  o'clock  two  hun- 
dred thousand  soldiers  were  on  board  the  fleet ;  and  when  a 
little  after  midday  this  fine  army  was  on  the  point  of  start- 
ing amidst  the  adieus  and  good  wishes  of  the  whole  city, 
assembled  upon  the  walls  and  upon  the  surrounding  cliffs, 
and  at  the  very  moment  when  all  the  soldiers  standing 
with  uncovered  heads  were  about  to  bid  farewell  to  the  soil 
of  France,  crying,  "  Vive  I  'Empereur  !  "  a  message  arrived 
from  the  imperial  barrack,  ordering  the  troops  to  disembark, 
and  return  to  camp.  A  telegraphic  dispatch  just  then 
received  by  his  Majesty  had  made  it  necessaiy  that  he 
should  move  his  troops  in  another  direction ;  and  the  sol- 
diers returned  sadly  to  their  quarters,  some  expressing  in 
a  loud  tone,  and  in  a  very  energetic  manner,  the  disap- 
pointment which  this  species  of  mystification  caused  them. 


252  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

They  had  always  regarded  the  success  of  the  enterprise 
against  England  as  assured,  and  to  find  themselves  stopped 
on  the  eve  of  departure  was,  in  their  eyes,  the  greatest  mis- 
fortune which  could  happen  to  them. 

When  order  had  again  been  restored,  the  Emperor  re- 
paired to  the  camp  of  the  right  wing,  and  made  a  proclama- 
tion to  the  troops,  which  was  sent  into  the  other  camps, 
and  posted  everywhere.  This  was  very  nearly  the  tenor  of 
it :  "  Brave  soldiers  of  the  camp  of  Boulogne  !  you  will  not 
go  to  England.  English  gold  has  seduced  the  Emperor  of 
Austria,  who  has  just  declared  war  against  France.  His 
army  has  passed  the  line  which  he  should  have  respected, 
and  Bavaria  is  invaded.  Soldiers !  new  laurels  await  you 
beyond  the  Rhine.  Let  us  hasten  to  defeat  once  more 
enemies  whom  you  have  already  conquered."  This  proc- 
lamation called  forth  unanimous  acclamations  of  joy,  and 
every  face  brightened,  for  it  mattered  little  to  these  in- 
trepid men  whether  they  were  to  be  led  against  Austria 
or  England;  they  simply  thirsted  for  the  fray,  and  now 
that  war  had  been  declared,  every  desire  was  gratified. 

Thus  vanished  all  those  grand  projects  of  descent 
upon  England,  which  had  been  so  long  matured,  so  wisely 
planned.  There  is  no  doubt  now  that  with  favorable 
weather  and  perseverance  the  enterprise  would  have  been 
crowned  with  the  greatest  success  ;  but  this  was  not  to  be. 

A  few  regiments  remained  at  Boulogne ;  and  while  their 
brethren  crushed  the  Austrians,  they  erected  upon  the  sea- 
shore a  column  destined  to  recall  for  all  time  the  memory 
of  Napoleon  and  his  immortal  army. 

Immediately  after  the  proclamation  of  which  I  have 
just  spoken,  his  Majesty  gave  orders  that  all  should  pre- 


DEPARTURE  FROM  BOULOGNE.  253 

pare  for  immediate  departure ;  and  the  grand  marshal  of  the 
palace  was  charged  to  audit  and  pay  all  the  expenses  which 
the  Emperor  had  made,  or  which  he  had  ordered  to  be 
made,  during  Ms  several  visits,  not  without  cautioning 
him,  according  to  custom,  to  be  careful  not  to  pay  for  too 
much  of  anything,  nor  too  high  a  price.  I  believe  that  I 
have  already  stated  that  the  Emperor  was  extremely  eco- 
nomical in  everything  which  concerned  him  personally,  and 
that  he  was  afraid  of  spending  twenty  francs  unless  for  some 
directly  useful  purpose.  Among  many  other  accounts  to  be 
audited,  the  grand  marshal  of  the  palace  received  that  of 
Sordi,  engineer  of  military  roads,  whom  he  had  ordered  to 
decorate  his  Majesty's  barrack,  both  inside  and  out.  The 
account  amounted  to  fifty  thousand  francs.1  The  grand 
marshal  exclaimed  aloud  at  this  frightful  sum.  He  was 
not  willing  to  approve  the  account  of  Sordi,  and  sent  it 
back  to  him,  saying  that  he  could  not  authorize  the  pay- 
ment without  first  receiving  the  orders  of  the  Emperor. 
The  engineer  assured  the  grand  marshal  that  he  had  over- 
charged nothing,  and  that  he  had  closely  followed  his 
instructions,  and  added,  that  being  the  case,  it  was  impos- 
sible for  him  to  make  the  slightest  reduction.  The  next 
day  Sordi  received  instructions  to  attend  his  Majesty. 
The  Emperor  was  in  his  barrack,  which  was  the  subject 
under  discussion,  and  spread  out  before  him  was,  not  the 
account  of  the  engineer,  but  a  map,  upon  which  he  was 
tracing  the  intended  march  of  his  army.  Sordi  came,  and 
was  admitted  by  General  Caffarelli.2  The  half-open  door 

1  810,000,  equal  probably  to  $30,000  of  this  day.  —TRANS. 

2  Francois  Mario  Caffarelli,  born  at  Falga  in  1766 ;  was  a  general  of  divis- 
ion at  Austerlitz,  1805 ;  was  minister  of  war  for  the  kingdom  of  Italy,  1806- 


254  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

permitted  the  general,  as  well  as  myself,  to  hear  the  con- 
versation which  followed.  "Monsieur,"  said  his  Majesty, 
"you  have  spent  far  too  much  money  in  decorating  this 
miserable  barrack.  Yes;  certainly  far  too  much.  Fifty 
thousand  francs!  Just  think  of  it,  monsieur!  That  is 
frightful ;  I  will  not  pay  you !"  The  engineer,  silenced  by 
this  abrupt  entrance  upon  business,  did  not  at  first  know 
how  to  reply.  Happily  the  Emperor,  again  casting  his  eyes 
on  the  map  winch  lay  unrolled  before  him,  gave  him  time 
to  recover  himself;  and  he  replied,  "Sire,  the  golden  clouds 
which  ornament  this  ceiling  "  (for  all  this  took  place  in  the 
council-chamber),  "and  which  surround  the  guardian  star  of 
your  Majesty,  cost  twenty  thousand  francs  in  truth ;  but  if 
I  had  consulted  the  hearts  of  your  subjects,  the  imperial 
eagle  which  is  again  about  to  strike  with  a  thunderbolt 
the  enemies  of  France  and  of  your  throne,  would  have 
spread  its  wings  amid  the  rarest  diamonds."  -  —  "  That  is  very 
good,"  replied  the  Emperor,  laughing,  "  very  good ;  but  I 
will  not  have  you  paid  at  present,  and  since  you  tell  me 
that  this  eagle  which  costs  so  dear  will  strike  the  Aus- 
trians  with  a  thunderbolt,  wait  until  he  has  done  so,  and  I 
will  then  pay  your  account  in  rix  dollars  of  the  Emperor  of 
Germany,  and  the  gold  frederics  of  the  King  of  Prussia." 
His  Majesty,  resuming  his  compass,  began  to  move  his 
armies  upon  the  map ;  and  truth  to  tell,  the  account  of  the 
engineer  was  not  paid  until  after  the  battle  of  Austerlitz, 
and  then,  as  the  Emperor  had  said,  in  rix  dollars  and 
frederics. 


1810,  after  which  ho  served  in  Spain.  He  conducted  Marie  Louise  to  Vienna 
in  1814.  Died  1849.  He  was  brother  to  the  Caffarelli  (born  1756)  who  was 
killed  at  the  siege  of  Acre,  1799.  —  TRANS. 


TOUR   THROUGH  BELGIUM.  255 

About  the  end  of  July  (1804),  the  Emperor  left  Bou- 
logne in  order  to  make  a  tour  through  Belgium  before  rejoin- 
ing the  Empress,  who  had  gone  direct  to  Aix-la-Chapelle. 
Everywhere  on  this  tour  he  was  welcomed,  not  only  with 
the  honors  reserved  for  crowned  heads,  but  with  hearty 
acclamations,  addressed  to  him  personally  rather  than  to 
his  official  position.  I  will  say  nothing  of  the  fetes  which 
were  given  in  his  honor  during  this  journey,  nor  of  the  re- 
markable things  which  occurred.  Descriptions  of  these  can 
easily  be  found  elsewhere ;  and  it  is  my  purpose  to  relate 
only  what  came  peculiarly  under  my  own  observation,  or 
at  least  details  not  known  to  the  general  public.  Let 
it  suffice,  then,  to  say  that  our  journey  through  Arras, 
Valenciennes,  Mons,  Brussels,  etc.,  resembled  a  triumphal 
progress.  At  the  gate  of  each  town  the  municipal  council 
presented  to  his  Majesty  the  wine  of  honor  and  the  keys  of 
the  place.  We  stopped  a  few  days  at  Lacken ;  and  being 
only  five  leagues  from  Alost,  a  little  town  where  my  rela- 
tives lived,  I  requested  the  Emperor's  permission  to  leave 
him  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  it  was  granted,  though 
reluctantly.  Alost,  like  the  remainder  of  Belgium  at  this 
time,  professed  the  greatest  attachment  for  the  Emperor, 
and  consequently  I  had  hardly  a  moment  to  myself.  I 

visited  at  the  house  of  Monsieur  D ,  one  of  my  friends, 

whose  family  had  long  held  positions  of  honor  in  the  gov- 
ernment of  Belgium.  There  I  think  all  the  town  must 
have  come  to  meet  me  ;  but  I  was  not  vain  enough  to 
appropriate  to  myself  all  the  honor  of  this  attention,  for 
each  one  who  came  was  anxious  to  learn  even  the  most 
insignificant  details  concerning  the  great  man  near  whom 
I  was  placed.  On  this  account  I  was  extraordinarily  feted, 


256        RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

and  my  twenty-four  hours  passed  only  too  quickly.  On 
my  return,  his  Majesty  deigned  to  ask  innumerable  ques- 
tions regarding  the  town  of  Alost  and  its  inhabitants,  and 
as  to  what  was  thought  there  of  his  government  and  of 
himself.  I  was  glad  to  be  able  to  answer  without  flattery, 
that  he  was  adored.  He  appeared  gratified,  and  spoke  to 
me  most  kindly  of  my  family  and  of  my  own  small  inter- 
ests. 

We  left  the  next  day  for  Lacken,  and  passed  through 
Alost ;  and  had  I  known  this  the  evening  before,  I  might 
perhaps  have  rested  a  few  hours  longer.  However,  the 
Emperor  found  so  much  difficulty  in  granting  me  even  one 
day,  that  I  would  not  probably  have  dared  to  lose  more, 
even  had  I  known  that  the  household  was  to  pass  by  this 
town. 

The  Emperor  was  much  pleased  with  Lacken;  he 
ordered  considerable  repairs  and  improvements  to  be  made 
there,  and  the  palace,  owing  to  this  preference,  became  a 
charming  place  of  sojourn. 

This  journey  of  their  Majesties  lasted  nearly  three 
months ;  and  we  did  not  return  to  Paris,  or  rather  to  Saint- 
Cloud,  until  November.  The  Emperor  received  at  Cologne 
and  at  Coblentz  the  visits  of  several  German  princes  and 
princesses ;  but  as  I  know  only  from  hearsay  what  passed 
in  these  interviews,  I  shall  not  undertake  to  describe 
them. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  T1IE  EMPEROR.  257 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

Description  of  the  Emperor.  —  Interest  attached  to  the  least  details  concerning 
historical  personages.  —  Fleury  and  Michelot  in  the  role  of  Frederick  the 
Great.  —  The  memoirs  of  Constant  consulted  by  authors  and  artists.  — 
Bonaparte  on  his  return  from  Egypt.  —  His  portrait  by  Horace  Vernet.  — 
Bonaparte's  forehead.  —  His  hair.  —  Color  and  expression  of  his  eyes.  — 
His  mouth,  lips,  and  teeth.  —  Shape  of  his  nose.  —  His  general  appear- 
ance.— His  extreme  leanness.  —  The  size  and  shape  of  his  head. — 
Necessary  to  line  his  hats  with  wadding,  and  to  soften  them  by  previous 
use.  —  Shape  of  his  ears. — Extreme  sensitiveness  of  his  scalp. — The 
Emperor's  height. — His  neck.  —  His  shoulders.  —  His  chest.  —  His  leg 
and  foot.  —  His  feet.  —  Beauty  of  his  hand  and  his  coquetry  with  it.  — 
Habit  of  slightly  biting  his  nails.  —  Takes  on  flesh  with  the  Empire. — 
The  Emperor's  complexion.  —  Singular  convulsive  motion.  —  Remarka- 
ble peculiarity  of  the  heart  of  Napoleon.  —  Time  spent  at  the  table.  — 
Wise  precaution  of  Prince  Eugene. — The  Emperor's  breakfast. — His 
manner  of  eating.  —  Accommodating  guests.  —  Favorite  dishes  of  the  Em- 
peror. —  Chicken  a  la  Marengo.  —  Use  of  coffee.  —  Common  error  on  this 
point.  —  Conjugal  attention  of  the  two  Empresses. — Use  of  wine. — 
Anecdote  of  Marshal  Augereau.  —  Error  and  tales  refuted  by  Constant. 
—  Imprudent  confidence  of  the  Emperor.  —  Bad  effects  of  the  habit  of 
eating  too  fast.  —  Josephine  and  Constant  sick  nurses  of  the  Emperor.  — 
The  Emperor  a  bad  patient.  —  Tenderness,  care,  and  courage  of  Jose- 
phine. —  Diseases  of  the  Emperor.  —  Tenacity  of  a  disease  contracted 
at  the  siege  of  Toulon.  —  Colonel  Bonaparte  and  the  rammer.  — Wounds 
of  the  Emperor.  —  The  bayonet  wound,  and  the  gun-shot  of  the  Tyro- 
lese  rifleman.  —  Repugnance  to  medicine.  —  Precaution  advised  by 
Doctor  Corvisart.  —  The  Emperor's  hour  of  cising.  —  His  familiarity 
towards  Constant.  —  Conversations  with  Doctors  Corvisart  and  Yvan.  — 
The  doctor's  ears  pulled,  and  his  resistance.  —  Talks  of  the  Emperor 
with  Constant.  —  Occasion  neglected  and  lost.  —  Tea  on  rising  from  his 
bed. — The  Emperor's  bath. — Reading  the  papers.  —  First  work  with 
his  secretary.  —  Summer  and  winter  dressing-gowns.  —  Night-cap  and 
bath. — Ceremony  of  shaving. — Bathings,  rubbings,  toilet,  etc.  —  Cos- 
tume.—  Habit  of  having  himself  dressed. — Napoleon  born  to  have 
valets  de  chambre. — Royal  etiquette  not  re-established.  —  The  Emper- 
or's hour  for  retiring.  —  His  hasty  manner  of  undressing.  —  How  he 


258  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

called  Constant. — The  warming-pan.  —  The  night-lamp.  — The  Empress 
Josephine  the  Emperor's  favorite  reader.  —  The  perfume-boxes.  —  Na- 
poleon very  sensitive  to  cold.  —  Passion  for  bathing. — Work  at  night. — 
Anecdote.  —  Talleyrand  asleep  in  the  Emperor's  bedroom.  —  Drinks  of 
the  Emperor  during  the  night.  —  Excessive  economy  of  the  Emperor 
in  his  household.  —  New  Year's  gifts  to  Constant. — Pinching  ears. — 
Imperial  tenderness  and  familiarity.  —  Prince  of  Neuchatel. 


NOTHING  is  too  trivial  to  narrate  concerning  great  men ; 
for  posterity  shows  itself  eager  to  learn  even  the  most  insig- 
nificant details  concerning  their  manner  of  life,  their  tastes, 
their  slightest  peculiarities.  When  I  attended  the  theater, 
whether  in  my  short  intervals  of  leisure  or  in  the  suite  of 
his  Majesty,  I  remarked  how  keenly  the  spectators  enjoyed 
the  presentation  on  the  stage  of  some  grand  historic  per- 
sonage ;  whose  costume,  gestures,  bearing,  even  his  infirmi- 
ties and  faults,  were  delineated  exactly  as  they  have  been 
transmitted  to  us  by  contemporaries.  I  myself  always  took 
the  greatest  pleasure  in  seeing  these  living  portraits  of  cele- 
brated men,  and  well  remember  that  on  no  occasion  did  I 
ever  so  thoroughly  enjoy  the  stage  as  when  I  saw  for  the 
first  time  the  charming  piece  of  The  Two  Pages.  Fleury 
in  the  rdle  of  Frederick  the  Great  reproduced  so  perfectly 
the  slow  walk,  the  dry  tones,  the  sudden  movements,  and 
even  the  short-sightedness  of  this  monarch,  that  as  soon 
as  he  appeared  on  the  stage  the  whole  house  burst  into 
applause.  It  was,  •  in  the  opinion  of  persons  sufficiently 
well  informed  to  judge,  a  most  perfect  and  faithful  presen- 
tation ;  and  though  for  my  own  part,  I  was  not  able  to  say 
whether  the  resemblance  was  perfect  or  not,  I  felt  that  it 
must  be.  Michelot,  whom  I  have  since  seen  in  the  same 
role,  gave  me  no  less  pleasure  than  his  predecessor ;  and  it 
is  evident  that  both  these  talented  actors  must  have  studied 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  259 

the  subject  deeply,  to  have  learned  so  thoroughly  and 
depicted  so  faithfully  the  characteristics  of  their  model. 

I  must  confess  a  feeling  of  pride  in  the  thought  that 
these  memoirs  may  perhaps  excite  in  my  readers  some  of 
the  same  pleasurable  emotions  which  I  have  here  attempted 
to  describe  ;  and  that  perhaps  in  a  future,  which  will  inevi- 
tably come,  though  far  distant  now  perhaps,  the  artist  who 
will  attempt  to  restore  to  life,  and  hold  up  to  the  view  of 
the  world,  the  greatest  man  of  this  age,  will  be  compelled, 
in  order  to  give  a  faithful  delineation,  to  take  for  his 
model  the  portrait  which  I,  better  than  any  one  else,  have 
been  able  to  draw  from  life.  I  think  that  no  one  has  done 
this  as  yet ;  certainly  not  so  much  in  detail. 

On  his  return  from  Egypt  the  Emperor  was  very  thin 
and  sallow,  his  skin  was  copper-colored,  his  eyes  sunken, 
and  his  figure,  though  perfect,  also  very  thin.  The  likeness 
is  excellent  in  the  portrait  which  Horace  Vernet  drew  in 
his  picture  called  "  A  Review  of  the  First  Consul  .on  the 
Place  du  Carrousel."  His  forehead  was  very  high,  and 
bare ;  his  hair  thin,  especially  on  the  temples,  but  very  fine 
and  soft,  and  a  rich  brown  color ;  his  eyes  deep  blue,  ex- 
pressing in  an  almost  incredible  manner  the  various  emo- 
tions by  which  he  was  affected,  sometimes  extremely  gentle 
and  caressing,  sometimes  severe,  and  even  inflexible.  His 
mouth  was  very  fine,  his  lips  straight  -and  rather  firmly 
closed,  particularly  when  irritated.  His  teeth,  without 
being  very  regular,  were  very  white  and  sound,  and  he 
never  suffered  from  them.  His  nose  of  Grecian  shape,  was 
well  formed,  and  his  sense  of  smell  perfect.  His  whole 
frame  was  handsomely  proportioned,  though  at  this  time  his 
extreme  leanness  prevented  the  beauty  of  his  features  being 


260  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

especially  noticed,  and  had  an  injurious  effect  on  his  whole 
physiognomy. 

It  would  be  necessary  to  describe  his  features  separately, 
one  by  one,  in  order  to  form  a  correct  idea  of  the  whole, 
and  comprehend  the  perfect  regularity  and  beauty  of  each. 
His  head  was  very  large,  being  twenty-two  inches  in  cir- 
cumference ;  it  was  a  little  longer  than  broad,  consequently 
a  little  flattened  on  the  temples ;  it  was  so  extremely  sensi- 
tive, that  I  had  his  hats  padded,  and  took  the  trouble  to 
wear  them  several  days  in  my  room  to  break  them.  His 
ears  were  small,  perfectly  formed,  and  well  set.  The  Em- 
peror's feet  were  also  very  tender;  and  I  had  his  shoes 
broken  by  a  boy  of  the  wardrobe,  called  Joseph,  who  wore 
exactly  the  same  size  as  the  Emperor. 

His  height  was  five  feet,  two  inches,  three  lines.1 
He  had  a  rather  short  neck,  sloping  shoulders,  broad  chest, 
almost  free  from  hairs,  well  shaped  leg  and  thigh,  a  small 
foot,  and  well  formed  fingers,  entirely  free  from  enlarge- 
ments or  abrasions ;  his  arms  were  finely  molded,  and  well 
hung  to  his  body ;  his  hands  were  beautiful,  and  the  nails 
did  not  detract  from  their  beauty.  He  took  the  greatest 
care  of  them,  as  in  fact  of  his  whole  person,  without  foppish- 
ness, however.  He  often  bit  his  nails  slightly,  which  was 
a  sign  of  impatience  or  preoccupation. 

Later  on  he  grew  much  stouter,  but  without  losing  any 
of  the  beauty  of  his  figure ;  on  the  contrary,  he  was 
handsomer  under  the  Empire  than  under  the  Consulate; 
his  skin  had  become  very  white,  and  his  expression  ani- 
mated. 

The  Emperor,  during  his   moments,  or  rather  his  long 

1  French  measure,  and  equal  to  5  foet  6  inches  English.  —  TKANS. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  261 

hours,  of  labor  and  of  meditation,  was  subject  to  a  pecul- 
iar spasmodic  movement,  which  seemed  to  be  a  nervous 
affection,  and  which  clung  to  him  all  his  life.  It  consisted 
in  raising  his  right  shoulder  frequently  and  rapidly;  and 
persons  who  were  not  acquainted  with  this  habit  sometimes 
interpreted  this  as  a  gesture  of  disapprobation  and  dissatis- 
faction, and  inquired  with  anxiety  in  what  way  they  could 
have  offended  him.  He,  however,  was  not  at  all  affected 
by  it,  and  repeated  the  same  movement  again  and  again 
without  being  conscious  of  it. 

One  most  remarkable  peculiarity  was  that  the  Emperor 
never  felt  his  heart  beat.  He  mentioned  this  often  to  M. 
Corvisart,  as  well  as  to  me  ;  and  more  than  once  he  made 
us  pass  our  hands  over  his  breast,  in  order  to  prove  this 
singular  exception.  Never  did  we  feel  the  slightest  pul- 
sation.1 

The  Emperor  ate  very  fast,  and  hardly  spent  a  dozen 
minutes  at  the  table.  When  he  had  finished  he  arose, 
and  passed  into  the  family  saloon ;  but  the  Empress  Jose- 
phine remained,  and  made  a  sign  to  the  guests  to  do  the 
same.  Sometimes,  however,  she  followed  his  Majesty;  and 
then,  no  doubt,  the  ladies  of  the  palace  indemnified  them- 
selves in  their  apartments,  where  whatever  they  wished 
was  served  them. 

One  day  when  Prince  Eugene  rose  from  the  table  im- 
mediately after  the   Emperor,  the  latter,  turning   to   him, 
said,  "  But  you  have  not  had  time  to  dine,   Eugene." 
"  Pardon  me,"  replied  the  Prince,  "  I  dined  in  advance !  " 
The   other   guests    doubtless   found   that    this   was  not  a 

1  Another  peculiarity  was  that  his  pulse  ( or  heartbeat )  was  only  forty  to 
the  minute.  —  TRANS. 


262  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

useless  precaution.  It  was  before  the  Consulate  that  things 
happened  thus ;  for  afterwards  the  Emperor,  even  when  he 
was  as  yet  only  First  Consul,  dined  tete-d-tete  with  the 
Empress,  except  when  he  invited  some  of  the  ladies  of  the 
household,  sometimes  one,  sometimes  another,  all  of  whom 
appreciated  highly  this  mark  of  favor.  At  this  time  there 
was  already  a  court. 

Most  frequently  the  Emperor  breakfasted  alone,  on  a 
little  mahogany  candle-stand  with  no  cover,  which  rneal, 
even  shorter  than  the  other,  lasted  only  eight  or  ten 
minutes. 

I  will  mention,  later  on,  the  bad  effects  which  the  habit 
of  eating  too  quickly  often  produced  on  the  Emperor's 
health.1  Besides  this,  and  due  in  a  great  measure  to  his 
haste,  the  Emperor  lacked  much  of  eating  decently ;  and 
always  preferred  his  ringers  to  a  fork  or  spoon.  Much  care 
was  taken  to  place  within  his  reach  the  dish  he  preferred, 
which  he  drew  toward  him  in  the  manner  I  have  just 
described,  and  dipped  his  bread  in  the  sauce  or  gravy  it 
contained,  which  did  not,  however,  prevent  the  dish  being 
handed  round,  and  those  eating  from  it  who  could;  and 
there  were  few  guests  who  could  not. 

I  have  seen  some  who  even  appeared  to  consider  this 
singular  act  of  courage  a  means  of  making  their  court.  I 
can  easily  understand  also  that  with  many  their  admiration 
for  his  Majesty  silenced  all  repugnance,  for  the  same  reason 
that  we  do  not  scruple  to  eat  from  the  plate,  or  drink  from 
the  glass,  of  a  person  whom  we  love,  even  though  it  might 
be  considered  doubtful  on  the  score  of  refinement ;  this  is 

1  Possibly  the  disease  of  which  he  died,  cancer  of  the  stomach,  was 
aggravated,  if  not,  indeed,  caused,  by  this  habit.  — TRANS. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  263 

never  noticed  because  love  is  blind.  The  dish  which  the 
Emperor  preferred  was  the  kind  of  fried  chicken  to  which 
this  preference  of  the  conqueror  of  Italy  has  given  the 
name  of  poulet  d  la  Marengo.  He  also  ate  with  relish 
beans,  lentils,  cutlets,  roast  mutton,  and  roast  chicken.  The 
simplest  dishes  were  those  he  liked  best,  but  he  was  fas- 
tidious in  the  article  of  bread.  It  is  not  true,  as  reported, 
that  he  made  an  immoderate  use  of  coffee,  for  he  only 
took  half  a  cup  after  breakfast,  and  another  after  dinner; 
though  it  sometimes  happened  when  he  was  much  preoc- 
cupied that  he  would  take,  without  noticing  it,  two  cups 
in  succession,  though  coffee  taken  in  this  quantity  always 
excited  him  and  kept  him  from  sleeping. 

It  also  happened  frequently  that  he  took  it  cold,  or 
without  sugar,  or  with  too  much  sugar.  To  avoid  all 
which  mischances,  the  Empress  Josephine  made  it  her 
duty  to  pour  out  the  Emperor's  coffee  herself ;  and  the 
Empress  Marie  Louise  also  adopted  the  same  custom. 
When  the  Emperor  had  risen  from  the  table  and  entered 
the  little  saloon,  a  page  followed  him,  carrying  on  a  silver- 
gilt  waiter  a  coffee-pot,  sugar-dish  and  cup.  Her  Majesty 
the  Empress  poured  out  the  coffee,  put  sugar  in  it,  tried  a 
few  drops  of  it,  and  offered  it  to  the  Emperor. 

The  Emperor  drank  only  Chambertin J  wine,  and  rarely 
without  water ;  for  he  had  no  fondness  for  wine,  and  was  a 
poor  judge  of  it.  This  recalls  that  one  day  at  the  camp  of 
Boulogne,  having  invited  several  officers  to  his  table,  his 
Majesty  had  wine  poured  for  Marshal  Augereau,  and 
asked  him  with  an  air  of  satisfaction  how  he  liked  it.  The 
Marshal  tasted  it,  sipped  it  critically,  and  finally  replied, 

1  Chambertin  is  in  Burgundy ;  and  this  wine  is  heady.  —  TRANS. 


264  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

"  There  is  better,"  in  a  tone  which  was  unmistakable.  The 
Emperor,  who  had  expected  a  different  reply,  smiled,  as 
did  all  the  guests,  at  the  Marshal's  candor. 

Every  one  has  heard  it  said  that  his  Majesty  used  great 
precautions  against  being  poisoned,  which  statement  must 
be  placed  beside  that  concerning  the  cuirass  proof  against 
bullet  and  dagger.  On  the  contrary,  the  Emperor  carried 
his  want  of  precaution  only  too  far.  His  breakfast  was 
brought  every  day  into  an  antechamber  open  to  all  to 
whom  had  been  granted  a  private  audience,  and  who  some- 
times waited  there  for  several  hours,  and  his  Majesty's 
breakfast  also  waited  a  long  time.  The  dishes  were  kept 
as  warm  as  possible  until  he  came  out  of  his  cabinet,  and 
took  his  seat  at  the  table.  Their  Majesties'  dinner  was 
carried  from  the  kitchen  to  the  upper  rooms  in  covered 
hampers,  and  there  was  every  opportunity  of  introducing 
poison;  but  in  spite  of  all  this,  never  did  such  an  idea 
enter  the  minds  of  the  people  in  his  service,  whose  devo- 
tion and  fidelity  to  the  Emperor,  even  including  the  very 
humblest,  surpassed  any  idea  I  could  convey. 

The  habit  of  eating  rapidly  sometimes  caused  his 
Majesty  violent  pains  in  his  stomach,  which  ended  almost 
always  in  a  fit  of  vomiting. 

One  day  the  valet  on  duty  came  in  great  haste  to  tell 
me  that  the  Emperor  desired  my  presence  immediately. 
His  dinner  had  caused  indigestion,  and  he  was  suffering 
greatly.  I  hurried  to  Ms  Majesty's  room,  and  found  him 
stretched  at  full  length  on  the  rug,  which  was  a  habit  of 
the  Emperor  when  he  felt  unwell.  The  Empress  Jose- 
phine was  seated  by  his  side,  with  the  sick  man's  head  on 
her  lap,  while  he  groaned  or  stormed  alternately,  or  did 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  265 

both  at  once :  for  the  Emperor  bore  this  kind  of  misfor- 
tune with  less  composure  than  a  thousand  graver  mis- 
chances which  the  life  of  a  soldier  carries  with  it ;  and  the 
hero  of  Arcola,  whose  life  had  been  endangered  in  a  hun- 
dred battles,  and  elsewhere  also,  without  lessening  his  for- 
titude, showed  himself  unequal  to  the  endurance  of  the 
slightest  pain.  Her  Majesty  the  Empress  consoled  and 
encouraged  him  as  best  she  could;  and  she,  who  was  so 
courageous  herself  in  enduring  those  headaches  which,  on 
account  of  their  excessive  violence,  were  a  genuine  disease, 
would,  had  it  been  possible,  have  taken  on  herself  most 
willingly  the  ailment  of  her  husband,  from  which  she  suf- 
fered almost  as  much  as  he  did,  in  witnessing  his  suffer- 
ings. "  Constant,"  said  she,  as  I  entered,  "  come  quick ; 
the  Emperor  needs  you ;  make  him  some  tea,  and  do  not 
go  out  till  he  is  better."  His  Majesty  had  scarcely  taken 
three  cups  before  the  pain  decreased,  while  she  continued 
to  hold  his  head  on  her  knees,  pressing  his  brow  with  her 
white,  plump  hands,  and  also  rubbing  his  breast.  "  You 
feel  better,  do  you  not?  Would  you  like  to  lie  down 
a  little  while  ?  I  will  stay  by  your  bed  with  Constant." 
This  tenderness  was  indeed  touching,  especially  in  one 
occupying  so  elevated  a  rank. 

My  intimate  service  often  gave  me  the  opportunity  of 
enjoying  this  picture  of  domestic  felicity.  While  I  am  on 
the  subject  of  the  Emperor's  ailments,  I  will  say  a  few 
words  concerning  the  most  serious  which  he  endured,  with 
the  exception  of  that  which  caused  his  death. 

At  the  siege  of  Toulon,  in  1793,  the  Emperor  being 
then  only  colonel  of  artillery,  a  cannoneer  was  killed  at 
his  gun ;  and  Colonel  Bonaparte  picked  up  the  rammer  and 


266  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

rammed  home  the  charge  several  times.  The  unfortunate 
artilleryman  had  an  itch  of  the  most  malignant  kind,  which 
the  Emperor  caught,  and  of  which  he  was  cured  only  after 
many  years ;  and  the  doctors  thought  that  his  sallow  com- 
plexion and  extreme  leanness,  which  lasted  so  long  a  time, 
resulted  from  this  disease  being  improperly  treated.  At  the 
Tuileries  he  took  sulphur  baths,  and  wore  for  some  time  a 
blister  plaster,  having  suffered  thus  long  because,  as  he 
said,  he  had  not  time  to  take  care  of  himself.  Corvisart 
warmly  insisted  on  a  cautery ;  but  the  Emperor,  who  wished 
to  preserve  unimpaired  the  shapeliness  of  his  arm,  would 
not  agree  to  this  remedy. 

It  was  at  this  same  siege  that  he  was  promoted  from  the 
rank  of  chief  of  battalion  to  that  of  colonel  in  consequence 
of  a  brilliant  affair  with  the  English,  in  which  he  received  a 
bayonet  wound  in  the  left  thigh,  the  scar  of  which  he  often 
showed  me.  The  wound  in  the  foot  which  he  received  at 
the  battle  of  Ratisbonne  left  no  trace ;  and  yet,  when  the 
Emperor  received  it,  the  whole  army  became  alarmed. 

We  were  about  twelve  hundred  yards  from  Ratisbonne, 
when  the  Emperor,  seeing  the  Austrians  fleeing  on  all 
sides,  thought  the  combat  was  over.  His  dinner  had  been 
brought  in  a  hamper  to  a  place  which  the  Emperor  had 
designated ;  and  as  he  was  walking  towards  it,  he  turned  to 
Marshal  Berthier,  and  exclaimed,  "  I  am  wounded !  "  The 
shock  was  so  great  that  the  Emperor  fell  in  a  sitting  pos- 
ture, a  bullet  having,  in  fact,  struck  his  heel.  From  the 
size  of  this  ball  it  was  apparent  that  it  had  been  fired  by 
a  Tyrolean  rifleman,  whose  weapon  easily  carried  the  dis- 
tance we  were  from  the  town.  It  can  well  be  understood 
that  such  an  event  troubled  and  frightened  the  whole  staff. 


THE  EMPEROR  WOUNDED.  267 

An  aide-de-camp  summoned  me ;  and  when  I  arrived  I  found 
Dr.  Yvan  cutting  his  Majesty's  boot,  and  assisted  him  in 
dressing  the  wound.  Although  the  pain  was  still  quite 
severe,  the  Emperor  was  not  willing  to  take  time  to  put  on 
his  boot  again ;  and  in  order  to  turn  the  enemy,  and  reassure 
the  army  as  to  his  condition,  he  mounted  his  horse,  and 
galloped  along  the  line  accompanied  by  his  whole  staff. 
That  day,  as  may  be  believed,  no  one  delayed  to  take  break- 
fast, but  all  dined  at  Ratisbonne. 

His  Majesty  showed  an  invincible  repugnance  to  all 
medicine ;  and  when  he  used  any,  which  was  very  rarely, 
it  was  chicken  broth,  chicory,  or  cream  of  tartar. 

Corvisart  recommended  him  to  refuse  every  drink  which 
had  a  bitter  or  disagreeable  taste,  which  he  did,  I  believe, 
in  the  fear  that  an  attempt  might  be  made  to  poison  him. 

At  whatever  hour  the  Emperor  had  retired,  I  entered 
his  room  at  seven  or  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  I 
have  already  said  that  his  first  questions  invariably  were 
as  to  the  hour  and  the  kind  of  weather.  Sometimes  he 
complained  to  me  of  looking  badly ;  and  if  this  was  true,  I 
agreed  with  him,  and  if  it  were  not,  I  told  him  the  truth. 
In  this  case  he  pulled  my  ears,  and  called  me,  laughing, 
"grosse  bete,"  and  asked  for  a  mirror,  sometimes  saying  he 
was  trying  to  fool  me  and  that  he  was  very  well.  He  read 
the  daily  papers,  asked  the  names  of  the  people  in  the 
waiting-room,  named  those  he  wished  to  see,  and  conversed 
with  each  one.  When  Corvisart  came,  he  entered  without 
waiting  for  orders ;  and  the  Emperor  took  pleasure  in  teasing 
him  by  speaking  of  medicine,  which  he  said  was  only  a  con- 
jectural art,  that  the  doctors  were  charlatans,  and  cited 
instances  in  proof  of  it,  especially  in  his  own  experience, 


268  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  doctor  never  yielding  a  point  when  he  thought  he  was 
right.  During  these  conversations,  the  Emperor  shaved 
himself ;  for  I  had  prevailed  on  him  to  take  this  duty  on 
himself,  often  forgetting  that  he  had  shaved  only  one  side  of 
his  face,  and  when  I  called  his  attention  to  this,  he  laughed, 
and  finished  his  work.  Yvan,  doctor-in-ordinary,  as  well  as 
Corvisart,  came  in  for  his  share  in  the  criticisms  and  attacks 
on  his  profession;  and  these  discussions  were  extremely 
amusing.  The  Emperor  was  very  gay  and  talkative  at 
such  times,  and  I  believe,  when  he  had  at  hand  no  examples 
to  cite  in  support  of  his  theories,  did  not  scruple  to  invent 
them ;  consequently  these  gentlemen  did  not  always  rely 
upon  his  statements.  One  day  his  Majesty  pulled  the  ears 
of  one  of  his  physicians  (Halle,  I  believe).  The  doctor 
abruptly  drew  himself  away,  crying,  "  Sire,  you  hurt  me." 
Perhaps  this  speech  was  tinged  with  some  irritation,  and 
perhaps,  also,  the  doctor  was  right.  However  that  may  be, 
his  ears  were  never  in  danger  again. 

Sometimes  before  beginning  my  labors,  his  Majesty 
questioned  me  as  to  what  I  had  done  the  evening  before, 
asked  me  if  I  had  dined  in  the  city,  and  with  whom,  if 
I  had  enjoyed  myself,  and  what  we  had  for  dinner.  He 
often  inquired  also  what  such  or  such  a  part  of  my  clothing 
cost  me;  and  when  I  told  him  he  would  exclaim  at  the 
price,  and  tell  me  that  when  he  was  a  sub-lieutenant  every- 
thing was  much  cheaper,  and  that  he  had  often  during 
that  time  taken  his  meals  at  Roze's  restaurant,  and  dined 
very  well  for  forty  cents.  Several  times  he  spoke  to  me  of 
my  family,  and  of  my  sister,  who  was  a  nun  before  the  Rev- 
olution, and  who  had  been  compelled  to  leave  her  convent ; 
and  one  day  asked  me  if  she  had  a  pension,  and  how  much 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPEROR.  269 

it  was.  I  told  him,  and  added,  that  this  not  being  suffi- 
cient for  her  wants,  I  myself  gave  an  allowance  to  her, 
and  also  to  my  mother.  His  Majesty  told  me  to  apply  to 
the  Duke  of  Bassano,  and  report  the  matter  to  him,  as  he 
wished  to  treat  my  family  handsomely.  I  did  not  avail 
myself  of  this  kind  intention  of  his  Majesty;  for  at  that 
time  I  had  sufficient  means  to  be  able  to  assist  my  rela- 
tives, and  did  not  foresee  the  future,  which  I  thought  would 
not  change  my  condition,  and  felt  a  delicacy  in  putting  my 
people,  so  to  speak,  on  the  charge  of  the  state.  I  confess 
that  I  have  been  more  than  once  tempted  to  repent  this 
excessive  delicacy,  which  I  have  seen  few  persons  above 
or  below  my  condition  imitate.  On  rising,  the  Emperor 
habitually  took  a  cup  of  tea  or  orange  water;  and  if  he 
desired  a  bath,  had  it  immediately  on  getting  out  of  bed, 
and  while  in  it  had  his  dispatches  and  newspapers  read  to 
him  by  his  secretary  (Bourrienne  till  1804).  If  he  did  not 
take  a  bath,  he  seated  himself  by  the  fire,  and  had  them 
read  to  him  there,  often  reading  them  himself.  He  dictated 
to  the  secretary  his  replies,  and  the  observations  which  the 
reading  of  these  suggested  to  him ;  as  he  went  through  each, 
throwing  it  on  the  floor  without  any  order.  The  secretary 
afterwards  gathered  them  all  up,  and  arranged  them  to  be 
carried  into  the  Emperor's  private  room.  His  Majesty, 
before  making  his  toilet,  in  summer,  put  on  pantaloons  of 
white  piqu6  and  a  dressing-gown  of  the  same,  and  in  winter, 
pantaloons  and  dressing-gown  of  swanskin,  while  on  his 
head  was  a  turban  tied  in  front,  the  two  ends  hanging  down 
on  his  neck  behind.  When  the  Emperor  donned  this 
headdress,  his  appearance  was  far  from  elegant.  When  he 
came  out  of  the  bath,  we  gave  him  another  turban ;  for  the 


270  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

one  he  wore  was  always  wet  in  the  bath,  where  he  turned 
and  splashed  himself  incessantly.  Having  taken  his  bath 
and  read  his  dispatches,  he  began  his  toilet,  and  I  shaved 
him  before  he  learned  to  shave  himself.  When  the  Emperor 
began  this  habit,  he  used  at  first,  like  every  one,  a  mirror 
attached  to  the  window ;  but  he  came  up  so  close  to  it,  and 
lathered  himself  so  vigorously  with  soap,  that  the  mirror, 
window-panes,  curtains,  his  dressing-gown,  and  the  Emperor 
himself,  were  all  covered  with  it.  To  remedy  this  incon- 
venience, the  servants  assembled  in  council,  and  it  was  de- 
cided that  Roustan  should  hold  the  looking-glass  for  his 
Majesty.  When  the  Emperor  had  shaved  one  side,  he 
turned  the  other  side  to  view,  and  made  Roustan  pass 
from  left  to  right,  or  from  right  to  left,  according  to  the 
side  on  which  he  commenced.  After  shaving,  the  Emperor 
washed  his  face  and  hands,  and  had  his  nails  carefully 
cleaned ;  then  I  took  off  his  flannel  vest  and  shirt,  and 
rubbed  his  whole  bust  with  an  extremely  soft  silk  brush, 
afterwards  rubbing  him  with  eau-de-cologne,  of  which  he 
used  a  great  quantity,  for  every  day  he  was  rubbed  and 
dressed  thus.  It  was  in  the  East  he  had  acquired  this 
hygienic  custom,  which  he  enjoyed  greatly,  and  which  is 
really  excellent.  All  these  preparations  ended,  I  put  on 
him  light  flannel  or  cashmere  slippers,  white  silk  stockings, 
the  only  kind  he  ever  wore,  and  very  fine  linen  or  fustian 
drawers,  sometimes  knee-breeches  of  white  cassimere,  with 
soft  riding-boots,  sometimes  pantaloons  of  the  same  stuff 
and  color,  with  little  English  half-boots  which  came  to  the 
middle  of  the  leg,  and  were  finished  with  small  silver  spurs 
which  were  never  more  than  six  lines  in  length.  All 
his  boots  were  finished  with  these  spurs.  I  then  put  on 


,  DRESSING   THE  EMPEROR.  271 

him  his  flannel  vest  and  shirt,  a  neck-cloth  of  very  fine 
muslin,  and  over  all  a  black  silk  stock ;  finally  a  round 
vest  of  white  pique,  and  either  a  chasseur's  or  grenadier's 
coat,  usually  the  former.  His  toilet  ended,  he  was  presented 
with  his  handkerchief,  his  tobacco-box,  and  a  little  shell  box 
filled  with  aniseed  and  licorice,  ground  very  fine.  It  will 
be  seen  by  the  above  that  the  Emperor  had  himself  dressed 
by  his  attendants  from  head  to  foot.  He  put  his  hand  to 
nothing,  but  let  himself  be  dressed  like  an  infant,  his  mind 
filled  with  business  during  the  entire  performance. 

I  had  forgotten  to  say  that  he  used  boxwood  toothpicks, 
and  a  brush  dipped  in  some  opiate.  The  Emperor  was 
born,  so  to  speak,  to  be  waited  on  (homme  d  valets  de  cJiam- 
Ire).  When  only  a  general,  he  had  as  many  as  three 
valets,  and  had  himself  served  with  as  much  luxury  as  at 
the  height  of  his  fortunes,  and  from  that  time  received  all 
the  attentions  I  have  just  described,  and  which  it  was 
almost  impossible  for  him  to  do  without ;  and  in  this  partic- 
ular the  etiquette  was  never  changed.  He  increased  the 
number  of  his  servants,  and  decorated  them  with  new  titles, 
but  he  could  not  have  more  services  rendered  him  person- 
ally. He  subjected  himself  very  rarely  to  the  grand  eti- 
quette of  royalty,  and  never,  for  example,  did  the  grand 
chamberlain  hand  him  his  shirt;  and  on  one  occasion  only, 
when  the  city  of  Paris  gave  him  a  dinner  at  the  time  of 
his  coronation,  did  the  grand  marshal  hand  him  water  to 
wash  his  hands.  I  shall  give  a  description  of  his  toilet 
on  the  day  of  his  coronation ;  and  it  will  be  seen  that  even 
on  that  day  his  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of  the  French,  did 
not  require  any  other  ceremonial  than  that  to  which  he  had 
been  accustomed  as  general  and  First  Consul  of  the  Republic. 


272  EECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  Emperor  had  no  fixed  hour  for  retiring :  some- 
times he  retired  at  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening; 
oftener  he  stayed  awake  till  two,  three,  or  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  He  was  soon  undressed ;  for  it  was  his  habit, 
on  entering  the  room,  to  throw  each  garment  right  and  left, 
—  his  coat  on  the  floor,  his  grand  cordon  on  the  rug,  his 
watch  hap-hazard  at  the  bed,  his  hat  far  off  on  a  piece  of  fur- 
niture; thus  with  all  his  clothing,  one  piece  after  another. 
When  he  was  in  a  good  humor,  he  called  me  in  a  loud  voice, 
with  this  kind  of  a  cry:  "  Ohe,  oh!  oh!"  at  other  times, 
when  he  was  not  in  good  humor,  "  Monsieur,  Monsieur 
Constant!" 

At  all  seasons  his  bed  had  to  be  warmed  with  a  warming- 
pan,  and  it  was  only  during  the  very  hottest  weather  that  he 
would  dispense  with  this.  His  habit  of  undressing  himself 
in  haste  rarely  left  me  anything  to  do,  except  to  hand  him 
his  night-cap.  I  then  lighted  his  night-lamp,  which  was  of 
gilded  silver,  and  shaded  it  so  that  it  would  give  less  light. 
When  he  did  not  go  to  sleep  at  once,  he  had  one  of  his 
secretaries  called,  or  perhaps  the  Empress  Josephine,  to 
read  to  him ;  which  duty  no  one  could  discharge  better  than 
her  Majesty,  for  which  reason  the  Emperor  preferred  her  to 
all  his  readers,  for  she  read  with  that  especial  charm  which 
was  natural  to  her  hi  all  she  did.  By  order  of  the  Em- 
peror, there  was  burnt  in  his  bedroom,  in  little  silver  per- 
fume-boxes, sometimes  aloes  wood,  and  sometimes  sugar  or 
vinegar ;  and  almost  the  year  round  it  was  necessary  to  have 
a  fire  hi  all  his  apartments,  as  he  was  habitually  very  sen- 
sitive to  cold.  When  he  wished  to  sleep,  I  returned  to 
take  out  his  lamp,  and  went  up  to  my  own  room,  my  bed- 
room being  just  above  that  of  his  Majesty.  Roustan  and 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPEROR.  273 

a  valet  on  service  slept  in  a  little  apartment  adjoining  the 
Emperor's  bedroom ;  and  if  he  needed  me  during  the  night, 
the  boy  of  the  wardrobe,  who  slept  in  an  antechamber,  came 
for  me.  Water  was  always  kept  hot  for  his  bath,  for  often 
at  any  hour  of  the  night  as  well  as  the  day  he  might  sud- 
denly be  seized  with  a  fancy  to  take  one. 

Doctor  Yvan  appeared  every  morning  and  evening,  at  the 
rising  and  retiring  of  his  Majesty. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Emperor  often  had  his  secre- 
taries, and  even  his  ministers,  called  during  the  night.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  at  Warsaw,  the  Prince  de  Talleyrand  once 
received  a  message  after  midnight ;  he  came  at  once,  and 
had  a  long  interview  with  the  Emperor,  and  work  was  pro- 
longed late  into  the  night,  when  his  Majesty,  fatigued,  at 
last  fell  into  a  deep  slumber.  The  Prince  of  Benevento, 
who  was  afraid  to  go  out,  fearing  lest  he  might  awaken  the 
Emperor  or  be  recalled  to  continue  the  conversation,  casting 
his  eyes  around,  preceived  a  comfortable  sofa,  so  he  stretched 
himself  out  on  it,  and  went  to  sleep.  Meneval,1  secretary 
to  his  Majesty,  not  wishing  to  retire  till  after  the  minister 
had  left,  knowing  that  the  Emperor  would  probably  call  for 
him  as  soon  as  Talleyrand  had  retired,  became  impatient  at 
such  a  long  interview ;  and  as  for  me,  I  was  not  in  the  best 
humor,  since  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  retire  without 
taking  away  his  Majesty's  lamp.  Meneval  came  a  dozen 
times  to  ask  me  if  Prince  Talleyrand  had  left.  "  He  is 
there  yet,"  said  I.  "  I  am  sure  of  it,  and  yet  I  hear 
nothing."  At  last  I  begged  him  to  place  himself  in  the 

1  Baron  Claude  Francis  de  Meneval,  born  in  Paris,  1778,  was  private  secre- 
tary of  Napoleon,  1804-1815.  He  wrote  Napoleon  and  Marie  Louise.  His 
memoirs  have  been  lately  published.  He  died  1850.— TKANS. 


274  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

room  where  I  then  was,  and  on  which  the  street-door  opened, 
whilst  I  went  to  act  as  sentinel  in  a  vestibule  on  which  the 
Emperor's  room  had  another  opening ;  and  it  was  arranged 
that  the  one  of  us  who  saw  the  prince  go  out  would  inform 
the  other.  Two  o'clock  sounded,  then  three,  then  four; 
no  one  appeared,  and  there  was  not  the  least  movement  in 
his  Majesty's  room.  Losing  patience  at  last,  I  half  opened 
the  door  as  gently  as  possible;  but  the  Emperor,  whose 
sleep  was  very  light,  woke  with  a  start,  and  asked  in  a  loud 
tone :  "  Who  is  that  ?  Who  comes  there  ?  What  is  that  ?  " 
I  replied,  that,  thinking  the  Prince  of  Benevento  had  gone 
out,  I  had  come  for  his  Majesty's  lamp.  "Talleyrand! 
Talleyrand!"  cried  out  his  Majesty  vehemently.  "Where 
is  he,  then?"  and  seeing  him  waking  up,  "well,  I  declare  he 
is  asleep!  Come,  you  wretch;  how  dare  you  sleep  in  my 
room !  ah  !  ah ! "  I  left  without  taking  out  the  lamp ;  they 
began  talking  again,  and  Meneval  and  I  awaited  the  end 
of  the  tete-d-tete,  until  five  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  Emperor  had  a  habit  of  taking,  when  he  thus 
worked  at  night,  coffee  with  cream,  or  chocolate ;  but  he 
gave  that  up,  and  under  the  Empire  no  longer  took  any- 
thing, except  from  time  to  time,  but  very  rarely,  either 
punch  mild  and  light  as  lemonade,  or  when  he  first  awoke, 
an  infusion  of  orange-leaves  or  tea. 

The  Emperor,  who  so  magnificently  endowed  the  most 
of  his  generals,  who  showed  himself  so  liberal  to  his  armies, 
and  to  whom,  on  the  other  hand,  France  owes  so  many  and 
such  handsome  monuments,  was  not  generous,  and  it  must 
even  be  admitted  was  a  little  niggardly,  in  his  domestic  af- 
fairs. Perhaps  he  resembled  those  foolishly  vain  rich  per- 
sons, who  economize  very  closely  at  home,  and  in  their  own 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPEROE.  275 

households,  in  order  to  shine  more  outside.  He  made  very 
few,  not  to  say  no,  presents  to  members  of  his  household; 
and  the  first  day  of  the  year  even  passed  without  loosening 
his  purse-strings.  While  I  was  undressing  him  the  evening 
before,  he  said,  pinching  my  ear,  "  Well,  Monsieur  Constant, 
what  will  you  give  me  for  my  present?"  The  first  time 
he  asked  this  question  I  replied  I  would  give  him  whatever 
he  wished ;  but  I  must  confess  that  I  very  much  hoped  it 
would  not  be  I  who  would  give  presents  next  day.  It 
seemed  that  the  idea  never  occurred  to  him ;  for  no  one 
had  to  thank  him  for  his  gifts,  and  he  never  departed 
afterwards  from  this  rule  of  domestic  economy.  Apropos 
of  this  pinching  of  ears,  to  which  I  have  recurred  so  often, 
because  his  Majesty  repeated  it  so  often,  it  is  necessary  that 
I  should  say,  while  I  think  of  it,  and  in  closing  this  sub- 
ject, that  any  one  would  be  much  mistaken  in  supposing 
that  he  touched  lightly  the  party  exposed  to  his  marks  of 
favor ;  he  pinched,  on  the  contrary,  very  hard,  and  pinched 
as  much  stronger  in  proportion  as  he  happened  to  be  in  a 
better  humor. 

Sometimes,  when  I  entered  his  room  to  dress  him,  he 
would  run  at  me  like  a  mad  man,  and  saluting  me  with 
his  favorite  greeting,  "  Well,  Monsieur  le  drole"  would 
pinch  my  ears  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  me  cry  out ;  he 
often  added  to  these  gentle  caresses  one  or  two  taps,  also 
well  applied.  I  was  then  sure  of  finding  him  all  the  rest 
of  the  day  in  a  charming  humor,  and  full  of  good-will,  as 
I  have  seen  him  so  often.  Roustan,  and  even  Marshal 
Berthier,  received  their  due  proportion  of  these  imperial 
tendernesses. 


276  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Sum  allowed  by  the  Emperor  for  his  clothing.  —  Estimates  cut  down.  —  Office 
of  a  thousand  crowns  and  revenue  of  a  commune.  —  When  I  was  sub- 
lieutenant. —  Fixed  ideas  of  the  Emperor  in  regard  to  economy.  —  Fur- 
nishers and  agents  accountable.  —  Constant's  carriage  taken  away  by 
the  grand  equerry,  and  restored  by  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor  throw- 
ing in  the  fire  books  which  displeased  him.  —  The  book  of  the  Baroness 
de  Stael.  —  The  Emperor  superintending  the  reading  of  the  people 
of  his  household.  —  How  the  Emperor  mounted  on  horseback.  —  The 
training  of  his  horses. — M.  Jardin,  the  Emperor's  equerry  —  Favorite 
horses  of  the  Emperor. — The  horse  of  Mt.  St.  Bernard  and  Marengo 
allowed  a  pension  in  old  age.  —  Intelligence  and  pride  of  an  Arab  horse 
of  the  Emperor.  —  Riding  and  vaulting  taught  the  pages  of  the  Emperor. 

—  The  Emperor  in  the  hunt.  —  The  stag  saved  by  Josephine.  —  Ill-tem- 
per and  cruelty  of  one  of  the  Empress's  ladies  of  honor.  —  Was  the 
Emperor  ever  wounded  in  the  hunt  ?  —  Napoleon  a  bad  shot.  — A  hunt 
with  falcons.  —  Falcons  sent  by  the  King  of,Holland.  —  Fondness  of  the 
Emperor  for  the  theater.  —  His  favorites.  —  The  great  Corneille  and 
Cinna. —  The  death  of  Csesar. — Representations  at  the  theater  of  Saint- 
Cloud. —  Baptiste    Junior  and  Michaut.  —  The  Venetians  of   Arnault, 
Senior.  —  Literary  conversations  with  the  Emperor  very  improving  to 
Constant.  —  Use  of  tobacco.  —  Popular  errors.  —  The  Emperor's  tobacco- 
boxes. —  The  gazelles  of  Saint-Cloud.  —  The  Persian  ambassador's  pipe. 

—  The  Emperor  not  an  adept  in  smoking.  —  Constant  gives  him  his  first 
and  only  lesson  in  smoking.  —  Awkwardness  and  disgust  of  the  Emperor. 

—  His  opinion  of  smokers.  —  The  Emperor's  clothes.  —  The  gray  over- 
coat. —  Aversion  of  the  Emperor  to  changes  in  fashion.  —  Subterfuges  of 
Constant  in  order  to  persuade  the  Emperor  to  adopt  them. — Elegance  of 
the  King  of  Naples.  —  Discussion  upon  toilet  between  the  Emperor  and 
Murat. — Royal  pun.  —  Fanciful   elegance.  —  The  tailor  Le"ger.  —  Napo- 
leon and  the  citizen-gentleman.  —  The  dress-coat  and  the  black  cravat.  — 
Vests  and  knee-breeches  of  the  Emperor.  —  Student  habits.  —  Spots  of 
ink.  —  The  Emperor's  shoes  and  stockings.  —  Another  habit.  —  The  Em- 
peror's buckles.  —  Napoleon  still  retaining  the  same  shoemaker  under 
the  Empire  that  he  employed  at  the  military  school.  —  The  shoemaker 
summoned  to  the  Emperor's  room.  —  Embarrassment  and  artlessness. 
— Linen  and  cipher  of  the  Emperor.  —  English  flannel.  —  The  Empress 


COST  OF  THE  EMPEROR'S   CLOTHES.  277 

Josephine  and  the  cashmere  vests.  —  Lie  about  the  cuirass.  —  The  Em- 
peror's bonbonniere.  —  His  decorations.  —  The  sword  of  Austerlitz.  — 
The  swords  of  the  Emperor. —  His  journeys.  — Why  the  Emperor  did  not 
announce  beforehand  the  moment  of  his  departure  and  the  length  of  his 
journeys.  —  Orders  as  to  expenses  on  the  road.  —  Presents,  gratuities,  and 
alms.  —  Questions  asked  the  curds.  —  Ecclesiastics  decorated  with  the 
star  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  —  Aversion  of  the  Emperor  to  embarrassed 
replies. —  The  service  on  the  journey.  —  Anecdotes. —  Captain  by  mistake. 
—  Wrong  done  a  veteran. — Military  reply.  — Reparation. 

THE  allowance  made  by  his  Majesty  for  the  yearly 
expenses  of  his  dress  was  twenty  thousand  francs  ($4,000) ; 
and  the  year  of  the  coronation  he  became  very  angry  be- 
cause that  sum  had  been  exceeded.  It  was  never  without 
trepidation  that  the  various  accounts  of  household  expenses 
were  presented  to  him ;  and  he  invariably  retrenched  and 
cut  down,  and  recommended  all  sort  of  reforms.  I  remem- 
ber after  asking  for  some  one  a  place  of  three  thousand 
francs,  which  he  granted  me,  I  heard  him  exclaim,  "  Three 
thousand  francs !  but  do  you  understand  that  this  is  the 
revenue  of  one  of  my  communes  ?  When  I  was  sub-lieu- 
tenant I  did  not  spend  as  much  as  that."  This  expression 
recurred  incessantly  in  his  conversations  with  those  with 
whom  he  was  familiar;  and  "when  I  had  the  honor  of 
being  sub-lieutenant "  was  often  on  his  lips,  and  always 
in  illustration  of  comparisons  or  exhortations  to  economy. 

While  on  the  subject  of  accounts,  I  recall  a  circum- 
stance which  should  have  a  place  in  my  memoirs,  since  it 
concerns  me  personally,  and  moreover  gives  an  idea  of  the 
manner  in  which  his  Majesty  understood  economy.  He  set 
out  with  the  idea,  which  was,  I  think,  often  very  correct, 
that  in  private  expenses  as  in  public  ones,  even  granting 
the  honesty  of  agents  (which  the  Emperor  was  always,  I 
admit,  very  slow  to  do),  the  same  tilings  could  have  been 


278  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

done  with  much  less  money.  Thus,  when  he  required  re- 
trenchment, it  was  not  in  the  number  of  objects  of  expense, 
but  only  in  the  prices  charged  for  these  articles  by  the  fur- 
nishers; and  I  will  elsewhere  cite  some  examples  of  the 
effect  which  this  idea  produced  on  the  conduct  of  his 
Majesty  towards  the  accounting  agents  of  his  government. 
Now  I  am  relating  only  private  matters.  One  day  when 
investigating  various  accounts,  the  Emperor  complained 
much  of  the  expenses  of  the  stables,  and  cut  off  a  con- 
siderable sum ;  and  the  grand  equerry,  in  order  to  put  into 
effect  the  required  economy,  found  it  necessary  to  deprive 
several  persons  in  the  household  of  their  carriages,  mine 
being  included  in  this  number.  Some  days  after  the  exe- 
cution of  this  measure,  his  Majesty  charged  me  with  a  com- 
mission, which  necessitated  a  carriage ;  and  I  was  obliged  to 
inform  him  that,  no  longer  having  mine,  I  should  not  be 
able  to  execute  his  orders.  The  Emperor  then  exclaimed 
that  he  had  not  intended  this,  and  M.  Caulaincourt  must 
have  a  poor  idea  of  economy.  When  he  again  saw  the 
Duke  of  Vicenza,  he  said  to  him  that  he  did  not  wish  any- 
thing of  mine  to  be  touched. 

The  Emperor  occasionally  read  in  the  morning  the  new 
works  and  romances  of  the  day;  and  when  a  work  dis- 
pleased him,  he  threw  it  into  the  fire.  This  does  not  mean 
that  only  improper  books  were  thus  destroyed ;  for  if  the 
author  was  not  among  his  favorites,  or  if  he  spoke  too  well 
of  a  foreign  country,  that  was  sufficient  to  condemn  the 
volume  to  the  flames.  On  this  account  I  saw  his  Majesty 
throw  into  the  fire  a  volume  of  the  works  of  Madame  de 
Stael,  on  Germany.  If  he  found  us  in  the  evening  enjoy- 
ing a  book  in  the  little  saloon,  where  we  awaited  the  hour 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPEROR.  279 

for  retiring,  he  examined  what  we  were  reading ;  and  if  he 
found  they  were  romances,  they  were  burned  without  pity, 
his  Majesty  rarely  failing  to  add  a  little  lecture  to  this  con- 
fiscation, and  to  ask  the  delinquent  "if  a  man  could  not 
find  better  reading  than  that."  One  morning  he  had 
glanced  over  and  thrown  in  the  fire  a  book  (by  what 
author  I  do  not  know) ;  and  when  Roustan  stooped  down 
to  take  it  out  the  Emperor  stopped  him,  saying,  "  Let  that 
filthy  thing  burn ;  it  is  all  that  it  deserves." 

The  Emperor  mounted  his  horse  most  ungracefully,  and 
I  think  would  not  have  always  been  very  safe  when  there,  if 
so  much  care  had  not  been  taken  to  give  him  only  those 
which  were  perfectly  trained;  but  every  precaution  was 
taken,  and  horses  destined  for  the  special  service  of  the 
Emperor  passed  through  a  rude  novitiate  before  arriving 
at  the  honor  of  carrying  him.  They  were  habituated  to 
endure,  without  making  the  least  movement,  torments  of 
all  kinds ;  blows  with  a  whip  over  the  head  and  ears ;  the 
drum  was  beaten;  pistols  were  fired;  fireworks  exploded  in 
their  ears ;  flags  were  shaken  before  their  eyes ;  heavy 
weights  were  thrown  against  their  legs,  sometimes  even 
sheep  and  hogs.  It  was  required  that  in  the  midst  of  the 
most  rapid  gallop  (the  Emperor  liked  no  other  pace),  he 
should  be  able  to  stop  his  horse  suddenly ;  and  in  short,  it 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  have  only  the  most  perfectly 
trained  animals. 

M.  Jardin,  senior,  equerry  of  his  Majesty,  acquitted 
himself  of  this  laborious  duty  with  much  skill  and  ability, 
as  the  Emperor  attached  such  importance  to  it;  he  also 
insisted  strongly  that  his  horses  should  be  very  handsome, 
and  in  the  last  years  of  his  reign  would  ride  only  Arab 
horses. 


280  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

There  were  a  few  of  those  noble  animals  for  which 
the  Emperor  had  a  great  affection;  among  others,  Styria, 
which  he  rode  over  the  St.  Bernard  and  at  Marengo. 
After  this  last  campaign,  he  wished  his  favorite  to  end  his 
days  in  the  luxury  of  repose,  for  Marengo  and  the  great 
St.  Bernard  were  in  themselves  a  well-filled  career.  The 
Emperor  rode  also  for  many  years  an  Arab  horse  of  rare 
intelligence,  in  which  he  took  much  pleasure.  During  the 
time  he  was  awaiting  his  rider,  it  would  have  been  hard 
to  discover  in  him  the  least  grace ;  but  as  soon  as  he  heard 
the  drums  beat  the  tattoo  which  announced  the  presence 
of  his  Majesty,  he  reared  his  head  most  proudly,  tossed  his 
mane,  and  pawed  the  ground,  and  until  the  very  moment 
the  Emperor  alighted,  was  the  most  magnificent  animal 
imaginable. 

His  Majesty  made  a  great  point  of  good  equerries,  and 
nothing  was  neglected  in  order  that  the  pages  should  re- 
ceive in  this  particular  the  most  careful  education.  To 
accustom  them  to  mount  firmly  and  with  grace,  they  prac- 
ticed exercises  hi  vaulting,  for  which  it  seemed  to  me  they 
would  have  no  use  except  at  the  Olympic  circus.  And, 
in  fact,  one  of  the  horsemen  of  Messieurs  Franconi  had 
charge  of  this  part  of  the  pages'  education. 

The  Emperor,  as  has  been  said  elsewhere,  took  no  pleas- 
ure in  hunting,  except  just  so  far  as  was  necessary  to  con- 
form to  the  usage  which  makes  this  exercise  a  necessary 
accompaniment  to  the  throne  and  the  crown ;  and  yet  I  have 
seen  him  sometimes  continue  it  sufficiently  long  to  justify 
the  belief  that  he  did  not  find  it  altogether  distasteful.  He 
hunted  one  day  in  the  forest  of  Rambouillet  from  six  in  the 
morning  to  eight  in  the  evening,  a  stag  being  the  object  of 


HABITS  OF  THE  EMPEKOR.  281 

this  prolonged  excursion;  and  I  remember  they  returned 
without  having  taken  him.  In  one  of  the  imperial  hunts 
at  Rambouillet,  at  which  the  Empress  Josephine  was  pres- 
ent, a  stag,  pursued  by  the  hunters,  threw  himself  under 
the  Empress's  carriage ;  which  refuge  did  not  fail  him,  for 
her  Majesty,  touched  by  the  misery  of  the  poor  animal, 
begged  his  life  of  the  Emperor.  The  stag  was  spared ;  and 
Josephine  placed  round  its  neck  a  silver  collar  to  attest 
its  deliverance,  and  protect  it  against  the  attacks  of  all 
hunters. 

One  of  the  ladies  of  the  Empress  one  day  showed  less 
humanity  than  she,  however ;  and  the  reply  which  she  made 
to  the  Emperor  displeased  him  exceedingly,  for  he  loved 
gentleness  and  pity  in  women.  When  they  had  hunted  for 
several  hours  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  the  Emperor  drew 
near  the  carriage  of  the  Empress  Josephine,  and  began 
talking  with  a  lady  who  bore  one  of  the  most  noble  and 
most  ancient  names  in  all  France,  and  who,  it  is  said, 
had  been  placed  near  the  Empress  against  her  wishes.  The 
Prince  of  Neuchatel  (Berthier)  announced  that  the  stag 
was  at  bay.  "  Madame,"  said  the  Emperor  gallantly  to 

Madame  de  C ,  "  I  place  his  fate  in  your  hands."  — 

"Do  with  him,  Sire,"  replied  she,  "as  you  please.  It 
makes  no  difference  to  me."  The  Emperor  gave  her  a 
glance  of  disapproval,  and  said  to  the  master  of  the 
hounds,  "  Since  the  stag  in  his  misery  does  not  interest 
Madame  de  C  —  — ,  he  does  not  deserve  to  live  ;  have  him 
put  to  death ;  "  whereupon  his  Majesty  turned  his  horse's 
bridle,  and  rode  off.  The  Emperor  was  shocked  by  such 
an  answer,  and  repeated  it  that  evening,  on  his  return 
from  the  hunt,  in  terms  by  no  means  flattering  to  Madame 
deC . 


282  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

It  is  stated  in  the  Memorial  of  Saini^Helena  that  the 
Emperor,  while  hunting,  was  thrown  and  wounded  by  a 
wild  boar,  from  which  one  of  his  fingers  bore  a  bad  scar.  I 
never  saw  this,  and  never  knew  of  such  an  accident  having 
happened  to  the  Emperor.  The  Emperor  did  not  place  his 
gun  firmly  to  his  shoulder,  and  as  he  always  had  it  heavily 
loaded  and  rammed,  never  fired  without  making  his  arm 
black  with  bruises ;  but  I  rubbed  the  injured  place  with  eau 
de  Cologne,  and  he  gave  it  no  further  thought. 

The  ladies  followed  the  hunt  in  their  coaches  ;  a  table 
being  usually  arranged  in  the  forest  for  breakfast,  to 
which  all  persons  in  the  hunt  were  invited. 

The  Emperor  on  one  occasion  hunted  with  falcons  on 
the  plain  of  Rambouillet,  in  order  to  make  a  trial  of  the  fal- 
conry that  the  King  of  Holland  (Louis)  had  sent  as  a 
present  to  his  Majesty.  The  household  made  a  fete  of 
seeing  this  hunt,  of  which  we  had  been  hearing  so  much ; 
but  the  Emperor  appeared  to  take  less  pleasure  in  this  than 
in  the  chase  or  shooting,  and  hawking  was  never  tried  again. 

His  Majesty  was  exceedingly  fond  of  the  play,  pre- 
ferring greatly  French  tragedy  and  the  Italian  opera.  Cor- 
neille  was  his  favorite  author ;  and  he  had  always  on  his 
table  some  volume  of  the  works  of  this  great  poet.  I  have 
often  heard  the  Emperor  declaim,  while  walking  up  and 
down  in  his  room,  verses  of  China,  or  this  speech  on  the 
death  of  Caesar :  — 

"  Caesar,  you  will  reign  ;  see  the  august  day 
In  which  the  Koman  people,  always  unjust  to  thee,"  etc. 

At  the  theater  of  Saint-Cloud,  the  piece  for  the  even- 
ing was  often  made  up  of  fragments  and  selections  from 


THE  EMPEROR  FOND   OF  THE  THEATER.  283 

different  authors,  one  act  being  chosen  from  one  opera,  one 
from  another,  which  was  very  vexatious  to  the  spectators 
whom  the  first  piece  had  begun  to  interest.  Often,  also, 
comedies  were  played,  on  which  occasions  there  was  great 
rejoicing  in  the  household,  and  the  Emperor  himself  took 
much  pleasure  in  them.  How  many  times  have  I  seen  him 
perfectly  overcome  with  laughter,  when  seeing  Baptiste 
junior  in  les  Heritiers,  and  Michaut  also  amused  him  in  la 
Partie  de  Ohasse  de  Henry  IV. 

I  cannot  remember  in  what  year,  but  it  was  during  one 
of  the  sojourns  of  the  court  at  Fontainebleau,  that  the 
tragedy  of  the  Venetians  was  presented  before  the  Emperor 
by  Arnault,  senior.  That  evening,  as  he  was  retiring,  his 
Majesty  discussed  the  piece  with  Marshal  Duroc,  and  gave 
his  opinion,  adducing  many  reasons,  in  support  of  it. 
These  praises,  like  the  criticisms,  were  all  explained  and  dis- 
cussed; the  grand  marshal  talking  little,  and  the  Emperor 
incessantly.  Although  a  poor  judge  myself  of  such  mat- 
ters, it  was  very  entertaining,  and  also  very  instructive,  to 
hear  the  Emperor's  opinion  of  pieces,  ancient  and  modern, 
which  had  been  played  before  him;  and  his  observations 
and  remarks  could  not  have  foiled,  I  am  sure,  to  be  of 
great  profit  to  the  authors,  had  they  been  able  like  myself 
to  hear  them.  As  for  me,  if  I  gained  anything  from  it,  it  is 
being  enabled  to  speak  of  it  here  a  little  (although  a  very 
little),  more  appropriately  .than  a  blind  man  would  of 
colors ;  nevertheless,  for  fear  of  saying  the  wrong  thing,  I 
return  to  matters  which  are  in  my  department. 

It  has  been  said  that  his  Majesty  used  a  great  quantity 
of  tobacco,  and  that  in  order  to  take  it  still  more  frequently 
and  quickly,  he  put  it  in  a  pocket  of  his  vest,  lined  with 


284  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

skin  for  that  purpose.  This  is  an  error.  The  Emperor 
never  took  tobacco  except  in  his  snuff-boxes ;  and  although 
he  wasted  a  great  quantity  of  it,  he  really  used  very  little, 
as  he  took  a  pinch,  held  it  to  his  nose  simply  to  smell  it,  and 
let  it  fall  immediately.  It  is  true  that  the  place  where  he 
had  been  was  covered  with  it ;  but  his  handkerchiefs,  irre- 
proachable witnesses  in  such  matters,  were  scarcely  stained, 
and  although  they  were  white  and  of  very  fine  linen,  cer- 
tainly bore  no  marks  of  a  snuff-taker.  Sometimes  he  simply 
passed  his  open  snuff-box  under  his  nose  in  order  to  breathe 
the  odor  of  the  tobacco  it  contained.  These  boxes  were  of 
black  shell,  with  hinges,  and  of  a  narrow,  oval  shape ;  they 
were  lined  with  gold,  and  ornamented  with  antique  cameos, 
or  medallions,  in  gold  or  silver.  At  one  time  he  used 
round  tobacco-boxes ;  but  as  it  took  two  hands  to  open 
them,  and  in  this  operation  he  sometimes  dropped  either 
the  box  or  the  top,  he  became  disgusted  with  them.  His 
tobacco  was  grated  very  coarse,  and  was  usually  composed 
of  several  kinds  of  tobacco  mixed  together.  Frequently 
he  amused  himself  by  making  the  gazelles  that  he  had  at 
Saint-Cloud  eat  it.  They  were  very  fond  of  it,  and  although 
exceedingly  afraid  of  every  one  else,  came  close  to  his 
Majesty  without  the  slightest  fear. 

The  Emperor  took  a  fancy  on  one  occasion,  but  only 
one,  to  try  a  pipe,  as  I  shall  now  relate.  The  Persian 
ambassador  (or  perhaps  it  was  the  Turkish  ambassador 
who  came  to  Paris  under  the  Consulate)  had  made  his 
Majesty  a  present  of  a  very  handsome  pipe  such  as  is  used 
by  the  Orientals.  One  day  he  was  seized  with  a  desire  to 
try  it,  and  had  everything  necessary  for  this  purpose  pre- 
pared. The  fire  having  been  applied  to  the  bowl,  the  only 


THE  EMPEROR  NOT  A   SMOKER.  285 

question  now  was  to  light  the  tobacco ;  but  from  the  manner 
in  which  his  Majesty  attempted  this  it  was  impossible  for 
him  to  succeed,  as  he  alternately  opened  and  closed  his  lips 
repeatedly  without  drawing  in  his  breath  at  all.  "  Why, 
what  is  the  matter?  "  cried  he ;  "it  does  not  work  at  all." 
I  called  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  he  was  not  inhaling 
properly,  and  showed  him  how  it  ought  to  be  done ;  but  the 
Emperor  still  continued  his  performances,  which  were  like 
some  peculiar  kind  of  yawning.  Tired  out  by  his  fruitless 
efforts  at  last,  he  told  me  to  light  it  for  him,  which  I  did, 
and  instantly  handed  it  back  to  him.  But  he  had  hardly 
taken  a  whiff  when  the  smoke,  which  he  did  not  know  how 
to  breathe  out  again,  filled  his  throat,  got  into  his  windpipe, 
and  came  out  through  his  nose  and  eyes  in  great  puffs.  As 
soon  as  he  could  get  his  breath,  he  panted  forth,  "  Take  it 
away !  what  a  pest !  Oh,  the  wretches !  it  has  made  me 
sick."  In  fact,  he  felt  ill  for  at  least  an  hour  after,  and 
renounced  forever  the  "pleasure  of  a  habit,  which,"  said  he, 
"  is  only  good  to  enable  do-nothings  to  kill  time." 

The  only  requirements  the  Emperor  made  as  to  his 
clotliing  was  that  it  should  be  of  fine  quality  and  perfectly 
comfortable ;  and  his  coats  for  ordinary  use,  dresscoats,  and 
even  the  famous  gray  overcoat,  were  made  of  the  finest  cloth 
from  Louviers.  Under  the  Consulate  he  wore,  as  was  then 
the  fashion,  the  skirts  of  his  coat  extremely  long;  after- 
wards fashion  changed,  and  they  were  worn  shorter ;  but  the 
Emperor  held  with  singular  tenacity  to  the  length  of  his, 
and  I  had  much  trouble  in  inducing  him  to  abandon  this 
fashion,  and  it  was  only  by  a  subterfuge  that  I  at  last  suc- 
ceeded. Each  time  I  ordered  a  new  coat  for  his  Majesty, 
I  directed  the  tailor  to  shorten  the  skirts  by  an  inch  at 


286  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

least,  until  at  last,  without  his  being  aware  of  it,  they  were 
no  longer  ridiculous.  He  did  not  abandon  his  old  habits 
any  more  readily  on  this  point  than  on  all  others ;  and  his 
greatest  desire  was  that  his  clothes  should  not  be  too  tight, 
in  consequence  of  which  there  were  times  when  he  did  not 
make  a  very  elegant  appearance.  The  King  of  Naples,  the 
man  in  all  France  who  dressed  with  the  most  care,  and 
nearly  always  in  good  taste,  sometimes  took  the  liberty  of 
bantering  the  Emperor  slightly  about  his  dress.  "  Sire,"  said 
he  to  the  Emperor,  "  your  Majesty  dresses  too  much  like  a 
good  family  man.  Pray,  Sire,  be  an  example  to  your  faith- 
ful subjects  of  good  taste  in  dress."  -  —  "  Would  you  like  me, 
in  order  to  please  you,"  replied  the  Emperor,  "  to  dress  like 
a  scented  fop,  like  a  dandy,  in  fine,  like  the  King  of  Naples 
and  the  Two  Sicilies.  As  for  me,  I  must  hold  on  to  my  old 
habitudes"  —  "  Yes,  Sire,  and  to  your  habits  tues,"  added  the 
king  on  one  occasion.  "  Detestable  ! "  cried  the  Emperor  ; 
"that  is  worthy  of  Brunet;"  and  they  laughed  heartily 
over  this  play  on  words,  while  declaring  it  what  the 
Emperor  called  it. 

However,  these  discussions  as  to  his  dress  being  re- 
newed at  the  time  of  his  Majesty's  marriage  to  the  Empress 
Marie  Louise,  the  King  of  Naples  begged  the  Emperor  to 
allow  him  to  send  him  his  tailor.  His  Majesty,  who  sought 
at  that  time  every  means  of  pleasing  his  young  wife, 
accepted  the  offer  of  his  brother-in-law ;  and  that  very  day  I 
went  for  Leger,  King  Joachim's  tailor,  and  brought  him 
with  me  to  the  chateau,  recommending  him  to  make  th^ 
suits  which  would  be  ordered  as  loose  as  possible,  certain 
as  I  was  in  advance,  that,  Monsieur  Jourdain  1  to  the  con- 

1  The  well-known  character  in  Molicre's  comedy.  — TRANS. 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPEROR.  287 

trary,  if  the  Emperor  could  not  get  into  them  easily,  he 
would  not  wear  them.  Leger  paid  no  attention  to  my 
advice,  but  took  his  measure  very  closely.  The  two  coats 
were  beautifully  made ;  but  the  Emperor  pronounced  them 
uncomfortable,  and  wore  them  only  once,  and  Leger  did  no 
more  work  for  his  Majesty.  At  one  time,  long  before  this, 
he  had  ordered  a  very  handsome  coat  of  chestnut  brown 
velvet,  with  diamond  buttons,  which  he  wore  to  a  reception 
of  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  with  a  black  cravat,  though 
the  Empress  Josephine  had  prepared  for  him  an  elegant 
lace  stock,  which  all  my  entreaties  could  not  induce  him 
to  put  on. 

The  Emperor's  vest  and  breeches  were  always  of  white 
cassimere ;  he  changed  them  every  morning,  and  they  were 
washed  only  three  or  four  times.  Two  hours  after  he  had 
left  his  room,  it  often  happened  that  his  breeches  were  all 
stained  with  ink,  owing  to  his  habit  of  wiping  his  pen  on 
them,  and  scattering  ink  all  around  him  by  knocking  his 
pen  against  the  table.  Nevertheless,  as  he  dressed  in  the 
morning  for  the  whole  day,  he  did  not  change  his  clothes 
on  that  account,  and  remained  in  that  condition  the  re- 
mainder of  the  day.  I  have  already  said  that  he  wore 
none  but  white  silk  stockings,  his  shoes,  which  were  very 
light  and  thin,  being  lined  with  silk,  and  his  boots  lined 
throughout  inside  with  white  fustian ;  and  when  he  felt  an 
itching  on  one  of  his  legs,  he  rubbed  it  with  the  heel  of 
his  shoe  or  the  boot  on  the  other  leg,  which  added  still 
more  to  the  effect  of  the  ink  blotches.  His  shoe-buckles 
were  oval,  either  plain  gold  or  with  medallions,  and  he  also 
wore  gold  buckles  on  his  garters.  I  never  saw  him  wear 
pantaloons  under  the  Empire. 


288  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Owing  to  the  Emperor's  tenacity  to  old  customs,  his 
shoemaker  in  the  first  days  of  the  Empire  was  still  the 
same  he  employed  at  the  military  school ;  and  as  his  shoes 
had  been  made  by  the  same  measure,  from  that  time,  and 
no  new  one  ever  taken,  his  shoes,  as  well  as  his  boots,  were 
always  badly  made  and  ungraceful.  For  a  long  time  he 
wore  them  pointed ;  but  I  persuaded  him  to  have  them  en  bee 
de  canne,  as  that  was  the  fashion.  At  last  his  old  measure 
was  found  too  small,  and  I  got  his  Majesty's  consent  to 
have  a  new  one  taken ;  so  I  summoned  the  shoemaker,  who 
had  succeeded  his  father,  and  was  exceedingly  stupid. 
He  had  never  seen  the  Emperor,  although  he  worked  for 
him ;  and  when  he  learned  that  he  was  expected  to  appear 
before  his  Majesty,  his  head  was  completely  turned.  How 
could  he  dare  to  present  himself  before  the  Emperor? 
What  costume  must  he  wear?  I  encouraged  him,  and 
told  him  he  would  need  a  black  French  coat,  with 
breeches,  and  hat,  etc. ;  and  he  presented  himself  thus 
adorned  at  the  Tuileries.  On  entering  his  Majesty's  cham- 
ber he  made  a  deep  bow,  and  stood  much  embarrassed. 
"It  surely  cannot  be  you  who  made  shoes  for  me  at  the 
ficole  militaire  2  "  —  "  No,  your  Majesty,  Emperor  and  King, 
it  was  my  father."  —  "And  why  don't  he  do  so  now?" 
"  Sire,  the  Emperor  and  King,  because  he  is  dead."  -  —  "  How 
much  do  you  make  me  pay  for  my  shoes  ?  "  —  "  Your  Maj- 
esty, Emperor  and  King,  pays  eighteen  francs  for  them."  - 
"  That  is  very  dear."  -  —  "  Your  Majesty,  Emperor  and  King, 
could  pay  much  more  for  them  if  he  would."  The  Em- 
peror laughed  heartily  at  this  simplicity,  and  let  him  take 
his  measure ;  but  the  Emperor's  laughter  had  so  completely 
disconcerted  the  poor  man  that,  when  he  approached  him, 


THE  EMPEROR'S   SHOEMAKER.  289 

his  hat  under  his  arm,  making  a  thousand  bows,  his  sword 
caught  between  his  legs,  was  broken  in  two,  and  made  him 
fall  on  his  hands  and  knees,  not  to  remain  there  long, 
however,  for  his  Majesty's  roars  of  laughter  increasing,  and 
being  at  last  freed  from  his  sword,  the  poor  shoemaker  took 
the  Emperor's  measure  with  more  ease,  and  withdrew 
amidst  profuse  apologies. 

All  his  Majesty's  linen  was  of  extremely  fine  quality, 
marked  with  an  "  N "  in  a  coronet ;  at  first  he  wore  no 
suspenders,  but  at  last  began  using  them,  and  found 
them  very  comfortable.  He  wore  next  his  body  vests  made 
of  English  flannel,  and  the  Empress  Josephine  had  a  dozen 
cashmere  vests  made  for  his  use  in  summer. 

Many  persons  have  believed  that  the  Emperor  wore  a 
cuirass  under  his  clothes  when  walking  and  while  in  the 
army.  This  is  entirely  false  :  the  Emperor  never  put  on  a 
cuirass,  nor  anything  resembling  one,  under  his  coat  any 
more  than  over  it. 

The  Emperor  wore  no  jewelry;  he  never  had  in  his 
pockets  either  purse  or  silver,  but  only  his  handkerchief, 
his  snuff-box,  and  his  bonbon-box. 

He  wore  on  his  coat  only  a  star  and  two  crosses,  that  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  that  of  the  Iron  Crown.  Under 
his  uniform  and  on  his  vest  he  wore  a  red  ribbon,1  the  ends 
of  which  could  just  be  seen. 

When  there  was  a  reception  at  the  chateau,  or  he  held  a 
review,  he  put  this  grand  cordon  outside  his  coat. 

His  hat,  the  shape  of  which  it  will  be  useless  to  de- 
scribe while  portraits  of  his  Majesty  exist,  was  extremely 
fine  and  very  light,  lined  with  silk  and  wadded ;  and  on  it 
i  The  grand  Cordon  Rouge.  —  TRAKS. 


290  BECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

he  wore  neither  tassels  nor  plumes,  but  simply  a  narrow, 
flat  band  of  silk  and  a  little  tricolored  cockade. 

The  Emperor  purchased  several  watches  from  Breguet 
and  Meunier,  —  very  plain  repeaters,  without  ornamentation 
or  figures,  the  face  covered  with  glass,  the  back  gold.  M. 
Las  Cases  speaks  of  a  watch  with  a  double  gold  case, 
marked  with  the  cipher  "  B,"  and  which  never  left  the  Em- 
peror. I  never  saw  anything  of  the  sort,  though  I  was 
keeper  of  all  the  jewels,  and  even  had  in  my  care  for 
several  days  the  crown  diamonds.  The  Emperor  often 
broke  his  watch  by  throwing  it  at  random,  as  I  have  said 
before,  on  any  piece  of  furniture  in  his  bedroom.  He  had 
two  alarm-clocks  made  by  Meunier,  one  in  his  carriage,  the 
other  at  the  head  of  his  bed,  which  he  set  with  a  little 
green  silk  cord,  and  also  a  third,  but  it  was  old  and  worn- 
out  so  that  it  would  not  work;  it  is  this  last  which  had 
belonged  to  Frederick  the  Great,  and  was  brought  from 
Berlin. 

The  swords  of  his  Majesty  were  very  plain,  with  gold 
mountings,  and  an  owl  on  the  hilt. 

The  Emperor  had  two  swords  similar  to  the  one  he 
wore  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Austerlitz.  One  of  these 
swords  was  given  to  the  Emperor  Alexander,  as  the  reader 
will  learn  later,  and  the  other  to  Prince  Eugene  in  1814. 
That  which  the  Emperor  wore  at  Austerlitz,  and  on  which 
he  afterwards  had  engraved  the  name  and  date  of  that 
memorable  battle,  was  to  have  been  inclosed  in  the  column 
of  the  Place  Vendome ;  but  his  Majesty  still  had  it,  I  think, 
while  he  was  at  St.  Helena. 

He  had  also  several  sabers  that  he  had  worn  in  his  first 
campaigns,  and  on  which  were  engraved  the  names  of  the 


THE  EMPEROR'S  SWORDS.  291 

battles  in  which  he  had  used  them.  They  were  distributed 
among  the  various  general  officers  of  his  Majesty  the  Em- 
peror, of  which  distribution  I  will  speak  later. 

When  the  Emperor  was  about  to  quit  his  capital  to  re- 
join his  army,  or  for  a  simple  journey  through  the  depart- 
ments, we  never  knew  the  exact  moment  of  his  departure. 
It  was  necessary  to  send  in  advance  on  various  roads  a 
complete  service  for  the  bedroom,  kitchen,  and  stables ; 
this  sometimes  waited  three  weeks,  or  even  a  month,  and 
when  his  Majesty  at  length  set  out,  that  which  was  waiting 
on  the  road  he  did  not  take  was  ordered  to  return.  I  have 
often  thought  that  the  Emperor  acted  thus  in  order  to  dis- 
concert those  who  spied  on  his  proceedings,  and  to  baffle 
their  schemes. 

The  day  he  was  to  set  out  no  one  could  discover  that 
fact  from  him,  and  everything  went  on  as  usual.  After  a 
concert,  a  play,  or  any  other  amusement  which  had  col- 
lected a  large  number  of  people,  his  Majesty  would  simply 
remark  on  retiring,  "  I  shall  leave  at  two  o'clock  !"  Some- 
times the  time  was  earlier,  sometimes  later;  but  he  always 
began  his  journey  at  the  designated  hour.  The  order  was 
instantly  announced  by  each  of  the  head  servants ;  and  all 
were  ready  at  the  appointed  time,  though  the  chateau  was 
left  topsy-turvy,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  picture  I  have 
given  elsewhere  of  the  confusion  at  the  chateau  which  pre- 
ceded and  followed  the  Emperor's  departure.  Wherever 
his  Majesty  lodged  on  the  journey,  before  leaving  he  had  all 
the  expenses  of  himself  and  of  his  household  paid,  made 
presents  to  his  hosts,  and  gave  gratuities  to  the  servants 
of  the  house.  On  Sunday  the  Emperor  had  mass  cele- 
brated by  the  curate  of  the  place,  giving  always  as  much 


292  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

as  twenty  napoleons,1  sometimes  more,  and  regulating  the 
gift  according  to  the  needs  of  the  poor  of  the  parish.  He 
asked  many  questions  of  the  cures  concerning  their  re- 
sources, that  of  their  parishioners,  the  intelligence  and  mo- 
rality of  the  population,  etc.  He  rarely  failed  to  ask  the 
number  of  births,  deaths,  marriages,  and  if  there  were  many 
young  men  and  girls  of  a  marriageable  age.  If  the  cur 6 
replied  to  these  questions  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  and  if 
he  had  not  been  too  long  in  saying  mass,  he  could  count  on 
the  favor  of  his  Majesty ;  his  church  and  his  poor  would 
find  themselves  well  provided  for;  and  as  for  himself,  the 
Emperor  left  on  his  departure,  or  had  sent  to  him,  a 
commission  as  chevalier  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  His 
Majesty  preferred  to  be  answered  with  confidence  and 
without  timidity ;  he  even  endured  contradiction ;  and 
one  could  without  any  risk  reply  inaccurately ;  this  was 
almost  always  overlooked,  for  he  paid  little  attention  to 
the  reply,  but  he  never  failed  to  turn  away  from  those  who 
spoke  to  him  in  a  hesitating  or  embarrassed  manner. 
Whenever  the  Emperor  took  up  his  residence  at  any  place, 
there  were  on  duty,  night  and  day,  a  page  and  an  aide-de- 
camp, who  slept  on  sacking  beds.  There  was  also  con- 
stantly in  attendance,  in  an  antechamber,  a  quartermaster 
and  sergeant  of  the  stables  prepared  to  order,  when  neces- 
sary, the  equipages,  which  they  took  care  to  keep  always  in 
readiness  to  move ;  horses  fully  saddled  and  bridled,  and 
carriages  harnessed  with  two  horses,  left  the  stables  on  the 
first  signal  of  his  Majesty.  These  attendants  were  relieved 
every  two  hours,  like  sentinels. 

I  said  above  that  his  Majesty  liked  prompt  replies,  and 
i  $80.  —  TRANS. 


ANECDOTES   CONCERNING   THE  EMPEROR.          293 

those  which  showed  vivacity  and  sprightliness.  I  will  give 
two  anecdotes  in  support  of  this  assertion.  Once,  while 
the  Emperor  was  holding  a  review  on  the  Place  du  Carrou- 
sel, his  horse  reared,  and  in  the  efforts  his  Majesty  made  to 
control  him,  his  hat  fell  to  the  ground;  a  lieutenant  (his 
name,  I  think,  was  Rabusson),  at  whose  feet  the  hat  fell, 
picked  it  up,  and  came  out  from  the  front  ranks  to  offer  it 
to  his  Majesty.  "  Thanks,  Captain,"  said  the  Emperor,  still 
engaged  in  quieting  his  horse.  "  In  what  regiment,  Sire  ?  " 
asked  the  officer.  The  Emperor,  then  regarding  him  more 
attentively,  and  perceiving  his  mistake,  said  to  him,  smil- 
ing, "  Ah,  that  is  so,  monsieur ;  in  the  Guard." 

The  new  captain  received  the  commission  which  he 
owed  to  his  presence  of  mind,  but  which  he  had  in  fact 
well  earned  by  his  bravery  and  devotion  to  duty. 

At  another  review,  his  Majesty  perceived  in  the  ranks 
of  a  regiment  of  the  line  an  old  soldier,  whose  arms 
were  decorated  with  three  chevrons.  He  recognized  him 
instantly  as  having  seen  him  in  the  army  of  Italy,  and 
approaching  him,  said,  "  Well,  my  brave  fellow,  why  have 
you  not  the  cross?  You  do  not  look  like  a  bad  fellow." 
"  Sire,"  replied  the  old  soldier,  with  sorrowful  gravity, 
"  I  have  three  times  been  put  on  the  list  for  the  cross."  - 
"  You  shall  not  be  disappointed  a  fourth  time,"  replied  the 
Emperor;  and  he  ordered  Marshal  Berthier  to  place  on 
the  list,  for  the  next  promotion,  the  brave  soldier,  who  was 
soon  made  a  chevalier  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 


294  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

The  Pope  leaves  Rome  to  attend  the  coronation  of  the  Emperor.  —  He  passes 
Mont  Cenis.  —  His  arrival  in  France. — Religious  enthusiasm.  —  Meeting 
of  the  Pope  and  the  Emperor.  —  Requirements  of  etiquette.  —  Respect 
paid  to  the  Pope  by  the  Emperor.  — Entrance  of  the  Pope  into  Paris. — 
He  lodges  at  the  Tuileries.  —  Delicate  attentions  of  the  Emperor,  and 
gratitude  of  the  Holy  Father.  —  The  new  eldest  son  of  the  Church. — 
Description  of  Pius  VII.  —  His  abstemiousness  not  imitated  by  the  peo- 
ple of  his  suite.  —  The  Pope's  stay  at  Paris.  —  Enthusiasm  of  the  faith- 
ful. —  Visit  of  the  Pope  to  the  public  buildings.  —  Audiences  of  the  Pope 
in  the  grand  hall  of  the  museum.  —  The  author  is  present  at  one  of  these 
receptions. — The  blessing  of  the  Pope.  —  The  sovereign  pontiff  and  the 
little  children.  —  Costume  of  the  Holy  Father.  —  The  Pope  and  the 
Countess  de  Genlis.  —  The  sellers  of  beads.  —  The  2d  of  December,  1804. 

—  Confusion  in  the  chateau  of  the  Tuileries.  — Awaking  and  toilet  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Furnishers  of  his  wardrobe,  and  his  maledictions.  —  Costume 
of  the  Emperor  on  the  day  of  his  coronation.  —  Constant  performing  one 
of  the  duties  of  the  first  chamberlain.  —  The  coronation  cloak  and  the 
grenadier  uniform.  —  Jewels  of  the  Empress.  —  Crown,  diadem,  and  gir- 
dle of  the  Empress.  —  The  coronation  scepter,  hand  of  justice,  and  sword. 

—  Messieurs  Marguerite,  Odiot,  and  Biennais,   jewelers.  —  The  Pope's 
carriage. — The  first  chamberlain  and  his  horse. — Coronation  carriage. 

—  Singular   mistake   of    their   Majesties.  —  Coronation    cortege. — Reli- 
gious ceremony.  —  Music  at  the  coronation.  — Monsieur  Lesueur  and  the 
Boulogne  march.  —  Josephine  crowned  by  the  Emperor.  —  Glance  of  in- 
telligence. —  Coronation,  and  the  idea  of  divorce.  —  Chagrin  of  the  Em- 
peror, and  its  cause.  —  Coronation  oath.  —  The  archbishop's  gallery. — 
Throne  of  their  Majesties.  —  Illuminations.  —  Donations  made  by  the 
Emperor  to  the  church  of  Notre  Dame.  —  The  scourge  and  tunic  of  St. 
Louis.  —  The  Emperor's  coronation  medals.  —  Public  rejoicings. 

POPE  Pius  VII.  had  left  Rome  early  in  November, 
1804;  and  his  Holiness,  accompanied  by  General  Menou,1 
administrator  of  Piedmont,  arrived  at  Mont  Cenis,  on  the 

1  Singularly  enough,  this  general  had  turned  Mahometan  in  Egypt. — 
TRANS. 


THE  EMPEROR  MEETS  PIUS   VII.  295 

morning  of  Nov.  15.  The  road  of  Mont  Cenis  had  been 
surveyed  and  smoothed,  and  all  dangerous  points  made 
secure  by  barriers.  The  Holy  Father  was  received  by 
M.  Poitevin-Maissemy,  prefect  of  Mont  Blanc,  and  after  a 
short  visit  to  the  hospice,  crossed  the  mountain  in  a  sedan 
chair,  escorted  by  an  immense  crowd,  who  knelt  to  receive 
his  blessing  as  he  passed. 

Nov.  17  his  Holiness  resumed  his  carriage,  in  which  he 
made  the  remainder  of  the  journey,  accompanied  in  the  same 
manner.  The  Emperor  went  to  meet  the  Holy  Father, 
and  met  him  on  the  road  to  Nemours  in  the  forest  of 
Fontainebleau.  The  Emperor  dismounted  from  his  horse, 
and  the  two  sovereigns  returned  to  Fontainebleau  in  the 
same  carriage.  It  is  said  that  neither  took  precedence 
over  the  other,  and  that,  in  order  to  avoid  this,  they  both 
entered  the  carriage  at  the  same  instant,  his  Majesty  by 
the  door  on  the  right,  and  his  Holiness  by  that  on  the  left. 

I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  true  that  the  Emperor  used 
devices  and  stratagems  in  order  to  avoid  compromising  his 
dignity,  but  I  do  know  that  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  show  more  regard  and  attention  to  the  venerable  old 
man.  The  day  after  his  arrival  at  Fontainebleau,  the  Pope 
made  his  entrance  into  Paris  with  all  the  honors  usually 
rendered  to  the  head  of  the  Empire.  Apartments  had  been 
prepared  for  him  at  the  Tuileries  in  the  Pavilion  of  Flora ; 
and  as  a  continuation  of  the  delicate  and  affectionate 
consideration  which  his  Majesty  had  shown  from  the  begin- 
ning in  welcoming  the  Holy  Father,  he  found  his  apart- 
ments, in  arrangement  and  furniture,  an  exact  duplicate  of 
those  he  occupied  at  Rome.  He  evinced  much  surprise 
and  gratitude  at  this  attention,  which  he  himself,  it  is  said, 


296  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

with  his  usual  delicacy,  called  entirely  filial;  desiring  thus 
to  acknowledge  the  respect  which  the  Emperor  had  shown 
him  on  every  occasion,  and  the  new  title  of  eldest  son  of 
the  Church,  which  his  Majesty  was  about  to  assume  with 
the  imperial  crown. 

Every  morning  I  went,  by  order  of  his  Majesty,  to  in- 
quire after  the  health  of  the  Holy  Father.  Pius  VII.  had 
a  noble  and  handsome  countenance,  an  air  of  angelic 
sweetness,  and  a  gentle,  well  modulated  voice;  he  spoke 
little,  and  always  slowly,  but  with  grace ;  his  tastes  were 
extremely  simple,  and  his  abstemiousness  incredible ;  he 
was  indulgent  to  others  and  most  lenient  in  his  judg- 
ments. I  must  admit  that  on  the  score  of  good  cheer  the 
persons  of  his  suite  made  no  pretense  of  imitating  the 
Holy  Father,  but,  on  the  contrary,  took  most  unbecoming 
advantage  of  the  Emperor's  orders,  that  everything  re- 
quested should  be  furnished.  The  tables  set  for  them  were 
abundantly  and  even  magnificently  served;  which,  how- 
ever, did  not  prevent  a  whole  basket  of  Chambertin  being 
requested  each  day  for  the  Pope's  private  table,  though  he 
dined  alone  and  drank  only  water. 

The  sojourn  of  nearly  five  months  which  the  Holy 
Father  made  at  Paris  was  a  time  of  edification  for  the 
faithful;  and  his  Holiness  must  have  carried  away  a 
most  flattering  opinion  of  the  populace,  who,  having 
ceased  to  practice,  and  not  having  witnessed  for  more  than 
ten  years,  the  ceremonies  of  the  Catholic  religion,  had  re- 
turned to  them  with  irrepressible  zeal.  When  the  Pope 
was  not  detained  in  his  apartments  by  his  delicate  health 
(in  regard  to  which  the  difference  in  the  climate,  compared 
with  that  of  Italy,  and  the  severity  of  the  winter,  required 


THE  POPE  IN  PARIS.  297 

him  to  take  great  precautions),  he  visited  the  churches, 
the  museum,  and  the  establishments  of  public  utility;  and 
if  the  severe  weather  prevented  his  going  out,  the  persons 
who  requested  this  favor  were  presented  to  Pius  VII. 
in  the  grand  gallery  of  the  Museum  Napoleon.  I  was 
one  day  asked  by  some  ladies  of  my  acquaintance  to  ac- 
company them  to  this  audience  of  the  Holy  Father,  and 
took  much  pleasure  in  doing  so. 

The  long  gallery  of  the  museum  was  filled  with  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  arranged  in  double  lines,  the  greater  part 
of  whom  were  mothers  of  families,  with  their  children  at 
their  knees  or  in  their  arms,  ready  to  be  presented  for 
the  Holy  Father's  blessing;  and  Pius  VII.  gazed  on  these 
children  with  a  sweetness  and  mildness  truly  angelic. 
Preceded  by  the  governor  of  the  museum,  and  followed  by 
the  cardinals  and  lords  of  his  household,  he  advanced 
slowly  between  these  two  ranks  of  the  faithful,  who  fell  on 
their  knees  as  he  passed,  often  stopping  to  place  his  hand 
on  the  head  of  a  child,  to  address  a  few  words  to  the 
mother,  or  to  give  his  ring  to  be  kissed.  His  dress  was  a 
plain  white  cassock  without  ornament.  Just  as  the  Pope 
reached  us,  the  director  of  the  museum  presented  a  lady 
who,  like  the  others,  was  awaiting  the  blessing  of  his  Holi- 
ness on  her  knees.  I  heard  the  director  call  this  lady  Ma- 
dame, the  Countess  de  Genlis,  upon  which  the  Holy  Father 
held  out  to  her  his  ring,  raised  her  in  the  most  affable 
manner,  and  said  a  few  flattering  words  complimenting  her 
on  her  works,  and  the  happy  influence  which  they  had  exer- 
cised in  re-establishing  the  Catholic  religion  in  France. 

Sellers  of  chaplets  and  rosaries  must  have  made  their 
fortunes  during  this  winter,  for  in  some  shops  more  than 


298  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

one  hundred  dozen  were  sold  per  day.  During  the  month 
of  January,  by  this  branch  of  industry  alone,  one  mer- 
chant of  the  Rue  Saint^Denis  made  forty  thousand  francs. 
All  those  who  presented  themselves  at  the  audience  of  the 
Holy  Father,  or  who  pressed  around  him  as  he  went  out, 
made  him  bless  chaplets  for  themselves,  for  all  their  rela- 
tions, and  for  their  friends  in  Paris  or  in  the  provinces. 
The  cardinals  also  distributed  an  incredible  quantity  in 
their  visits  to  the  various  hospitals,  to  the  Hotel  des  Inva- 
lides,  etc.,  and  even  at  private  houses. 

It  was  arranged  that  the  coronation  of  their  Majesties 
should  take  place  on  Dec.  2.  On  the  morning  of  this 
great  day  all  at  the  chateau  were  astir  very  early,  espe- 
cially the  persons  attached  to  the  service  of  the  wardrobe. 
The  Emperor  himself  arose  at  eight  o'clock.  It  was  no 
small  affair  to  array  his  Majesty  in  the  rich  costume  which 
had  been  prepared  for  the  occasion ;  and  the  whole  time  I 
was  dressing  him  he  uttered  unlimited  maledictions  and 
apostrophes  against  embroiderers,  tailors,  and  furnishers 
generally.  As  I  passed  him  each  article  of  his  dress, 
"Now,  that  is  something  handsome,  Monsieur  le  droU" 
said  he  (and  my  ears  had  their  part  in  the  play),  "  but  we 
shall  see  the  bills  for  it."  This  was  the  costume  :  silk 
stockings  embroidered  in  gold,  with  the  imperial  coronet  on 
the  clocks ;  white  velvet  boots  laced  and  embroidered  with 
gold ;  white  velvet  breeches  embroidered  in  gold  on  the 
seams ;  diamond  buckles  and  buttons  on  his  garters  ;  his 
vest,  also  of  white  velvet,  embroidered  in  gold  with  dia- 
mond buttons ;  a  crimson  velvet  coat,  with  facings  of 
white  velvet,  and  embroidered  on  all  the  seams,  the  whole 
sparkling  with  gold  and  gems.  A  short  cloak,  also  of 


THE  CORONATION  COSTUME.  299 

crimson,  and  lined  with  white  satin,  hung  from  his  left 
shoulder,  and  was  caught  on  the  right  over  his  breast 
with  a  double  clasp  of  diamonds.  On  such  occasions  it 
was  customary  for  the  grand  chamberlain  to  pass  the  shirt ; 
but  it  seems  that  his  Majesty  did  not  remember  this  law  of 
etiquette,  and  it  was  I  alone  who  performed  that  office,  as 
I  was  accustomed.  The  shirt  was  one  of  those  ordinarily 
worn  by  his  Majesty,  but  of  very  beautiful  cambric,  for  the 
Emperor  would  wear  only  very  fine  linen;  but  ruffles  of 
very  handsome  lace  had  been  added,  and  his  cravat  was 
of  the  most  exquisite  muslin,  and  his  collar  of  superb 
lace.  The  black  velvet  cap  was  surmounted  by  two  white 
aigrettes,  and  surrounded  with  a  band  of  diamonds,  caught 
together  by  the  Regent.  The  Emperor  set  out,  thus 
dressed,  from  the  Tuileries  ;  and  it  was  not  till  he  had 
reached  Notre-Dame,  that  he  placed  over  his  shoulders  the 
grand  coronation  mantle.  This  was  of  crimson  velvet, 
studded  with  golden  bees,  lined  with  white  satin,  and  fas- 
tened with  a  gold  cord  and  tassel.  The  weight  of  it  was 
at  least  eighty  pounds,  and,  although  it  was  held  up  by 
four  grand  dignitaries,  bore  him  down  by  its  weight. 
Therefore,  on  returning  to  the  chateau,  he  freed  himself  as 
soon  as  possible  from  all  this  rich  and  uncomfortable 
apparel ;  and  while  resuming  his  grenadier  uniform,  he 
repeated  over  and  over,  "  At  last  I  can  get  my  breath." 
He  was  certainly  much  more  at  his  ease  on  the  day  of 
battle. 

The  jewels  which  were  used  at  the  coronation  of  her 
Majesty  the  Empress,  and  which  consisted  of  a  crown,  a  dia- 
dem, and  a  girdle,  came  from  the  establishment  of  M.  Mar- 
gueritte.  The  crown  had  eight  branches,  which  supported 


300  RECOLLECTIONS  Of  NAPOLEON. 

a  golden  globe  surmounted  by  a  cross,  each  branch  set  with 
diamonds,  four  being  in  the  shape  of  palm  and  four  of 
myrtle  leaves.  Around  the  crown  ran  a  band  set  with 
eight  enormous  emeralds,  while  the  bandeau  which  rested 
on  the  brow  shone  with  amethysts. 

The  diadem  was  composed  of  four  rows  of  magnificent 
pearls  entwined  with  leaves  made  of  diamonds,  each  of 
which  matched  perfectly,  and  was  mounted  with  a  skill  as 
admirable  as  the  beauty  of  the  material.  On  her  brow  were 
several  large  brilliants,  each  one  alone  weighing  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  grains.  The  girdle,  finally,  was  a 
golden  ribbon  ornamented  with  thirty-nine  rose-colored 
stones.  The  scepter  of  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  had  been 
made  by  M.  Odiot ;  it  was  of  silver,  entwined  with  a  golden 
serpent,  and  surmounted  by  a  globe  on  which  Charlemagne 
was  seated.  The  hand  of  Justice  and  the  crown,  as  well 
as  the  sword,  were  of  most  exquisite  workmanship,  but  it 
would  take  too  long  to  describe  them;  they  were  from 
the  establishment  of  M.  Biennais. 

At  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  Pope  left  the 
Tuileries  for  Notre  Dame,  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  eight 
handsome  gray  horses.  From  the  imperial  of  the  coach 
rose  a  tiara  surrounded  by  the  insignia  of  the  papacy  in  gilt 
bronze,  while  the  first  chamberlain  of  his  Holiness,  mounted 
on  a  mule,  preceded  the  carriage,  bearing  a  silver  gilt  cross. 

There  was  an  interval  of  about  one  hour  between  the 
arrival  of  the  Pope  at  Notre  Dame  and  that  of  their  Majes- 
ties, who  left  the  Tuileries  precisely  at  eleven  o'clock, 
which  fact  was  announced  by  numerous  salutes  of  artillery. 
Their  Majesties'  carriage,  glittering  with  gold  and  adorned 
with  magnificent  paintings,  was  drawn  by  eight  bay  horses 
superbly  caparisoned. 


THE  CORONATION.  301 

Above  the  imperial  of  this  coach  was  a  crown  supported 
by  four  eagles  with  extended  wings.  The  panels  of  this 
carnage,  which  was  the  object  of  universal  admiration, 
were  of  glass  instead  of  wood ;  and  it  was  so  built  that  the 
back  was  exactly  like  the  front,  which  similarity  caused 
their  Majesties,  on  entering  it,  to  make  the  absurd  mistake 
of  placing  themselves  on  the  front  seat.  The  Empress  was 
first  to  perceive  this,  and  both  she  and  her  husband  were 
much  amused. 

I  could  not  attempt  to  describe  the  cortege,  although 
I  still  retain  most  vivid  recollections  of  the  scene,  because  I 
should  have  too  much  to  say.  Picture  to  yourself,  then, 
ten  thousand  cavalry  superbly  mounted,  defiling  between 
two  rows  of  infantry  equally  imposing,  each  body  covering 
a  distance  of  nearly  half  a  league.  Then  think  of  the 
number  of  the  equipages,  of  their  magnificence,  the  splen- 
dor of  the  trappings  of  the  horses,  and  of  the  uniforms  of 
the  soldiers ;  of  the  crowds  of  musicians  playing  coronation 
marches,  added  to  the  ringing  of  bells  and  booming  of 
cannon;  then  to  all  this  add  the  effect  produced  by  this 
immense  multitude  of  from  four  to  five  hundred  thousand 
spectators ;  and  still  one  would  be  very  far  from  obtaining 
a  correct  idea  of  this  astonishing  magnificence. 

In  the  month  of  December  it  is  very  rare  that  the 
weather  is  fine,  but  on  that  day  the  heavens  seemed  auspi- 
cious to  the  Emperor ;  and  just  as  he  entered  the  archiepis- 
copal  church,  quite  a  heavy  fog,  which  had  lasted  all  the 
morning,  was  suddenly  dissipated,  and  a  brilliant  flood  of 
sunlight  added  its  splendor  to  that  of  the  cortege.  This 
singular  circumstance  was  remarked  by  the  spectators,  and 
increased  the  enthusiasm. 


302  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

All  the  streets  through  which  the  cortege  passed  were 
carefully  cleared  and  sanded;  and  the  inhabitants  decorated 
the  fronts  of  their  houses  according  to  their  varied  taste 
and  means,  with  drapery,  tapestry,  colored  paper,  and  some 
even  with  garlands  of  yew-leaves,  almost  all  the  shops  on 
the  Quai  des  Orfevres  being  ornamented  with  festoons  of 
artificial  flowers. 

The  religious  ceremony  lasted  nearly  four  hours,  and 
must  have  been  extremely  fatiguing  to  the  principal  actors. 
The  personal  attendants  were  necessarily  on  duty  contin- 
ually in  the  apartment  prepared  for  the  Emperor  at  the 
archiepiscopal  palace ;  but  the  curious  (and  all  were  so)  re- 
lieved each  other  from  time  to  time,  and  each  thus  had  an 
opportunity  of  witnessing  the  ceremony  at  leisure. 

I  have  never  heard  before  or  since  such  imposing  music : 
it  was  the  composition  of  Messieurs  Paesiello,  Rose,  and  Le- 
sueur,  precentors  of  their  Majesties ;  and  the  orchestra  and 
choruses  comprised  the  finest  musicians  of  Paris.  Two 
orchestras  with  four  choruses,  including  more  than  three 
hundred  musicians,  were  led,  the  one  by  M.  Persuis,  the 
other  by  M.  Rey,  both  leaders  of  the  Emperor's  bands.  M. 
Lais,  first  singer  to  his  Majesty,  M.  Kreutzer,  and  M.  Bail- 
lot,  first  violinists  of  the  same  rank,  had  gathered  the 
finest  talent  which  the  imperial  chapel,  the  opera,  and  the 
grand  lyric  theaters  possessed,  either  as  instrumental  play- 
ers or  male  and  female  singers.  Innumerable  military 
bands,  under*  the  direction  of  M.  Lesueur,  executed  heroic 
marches,  one  of  which,  ordered  by  the  Emperor  from  M. 
Lesueur  for  the  army  of  Boulogne,  is  still  to-day,  according 
to  the  judgment  of  connoisseurs,  worthy  to  stand  in  the  first 
rank  of  the  most  beautiful  and  most  imposing  musical  com- 


THE  CORONATION.  303 

positions.  As  for  me,  this  music  affected  me  to  such  an 
extent  that  I  became  pale  and  trembling,  and  convulsive 
tremors  ran  through  all  my  body  while  listening  to  it. 

His  Majesty  would  not  allow  the  Pope  to  touch  the 
crown,  but  placed  it  on  his  head  himself.  It  was  a  golden 
diadem,  formed  of  oak  and  laurel  leaves.  His  Majesty  then 
took  the  crown  intended  for  the  Empress,  and,  having 
donned  it  himself  for  a  few  moments,  placed  it  on  the 
brow  of  his  august  wife,  who  knelt  before  him.  Her  agita- 
tion was  so  great  that  she  shed  tears,  and,  rising,  fixed  on 
the  Emperor  a  look  of  tenderness  and  gratitude ;  and  the 
Emperor  returned  her  glance  without  abating  in  the  least 
degree  the  dignity  required  by  such  an  imposing  ceremony 
before  so  many  witnesses. 

In  spite  of  this  constraint  their  hearts  understood  each 
other  in  the  midst  of  the  brilliancy  and  applause  of  the 
assembly,  and  assuredly  no  idea  of  divorce  entered  the  Em- 
peror's mind  at  that  moment ;  and,  for  my  part,  I  am  very 
sure  that  this  cruel  separation  would  never  have  ibaken 
place  if  her  Majesty  the  Empress  could  have  borne  chil- 
dren, or  even  if  the  young  Napoleon,  son  of  the  King  of 
Holland  and  Queen  Hortense,  had  not  died  just  at  the  time 
the  Emperor  had  decided  to  adopt  him.  Yet  I  must  admit 
that  the  fear,  or  rather  the  certainty,  of  Josephine  not  bear- 
ing him  an  heir  to  the  throne,  drove  the  Emperor  to 
despair  ;  and  I  have  many  times  heard  him  pause  suddenly 
in  the  midst  of  his  work,  and  exclaim  with-  chagrin,  "  To 
whom  shall  I  leave  all  this  ?  " 

After  the  mass,  his  Excellency,  Cardinal  Fesch,  grand 
almoner  of  France,  bore  the  Book  of  the  Gospels  to  the 
Emperor,  who  thereupon,  from  his  throne,  pronounced  the 


304  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

imperial  oath  in  a  voice  so  firm  and  distinct  that  it  was 
heard  by  all  present.  Then,  for  the  twentieth  time  perhaps, 
the  cry  of  Vive  I  'Empereur  sprang  to  the  lips  of  all,  the  Te 
Deum  was  chanted,  and  their  Majesties  left  the  church  in 
the  same  manner  as  they  had  entered.  The  Pope  remained 
in  the  church  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  sover- 
eigns ;  and,  when  he  rose  to  withdraw,  universal  acclama- 
tions accompanied  him  from  the  choir  to  the  portal. 

Their  Majesties  did  not  return  to  the  chateau  until 
half-past  six,  and  the  Pope  not  till  nearly  seven.  On  their 
entrance  to  the  church,  their  Majesties  passed  through  the 
archbishop's  palace,  the  buildings  of  which,  as  I  have  said, 
communicated  with  Notre  Dame  by  means  of  a  wooden 
gallery.  This  gallery,  covered  with  slate,  and  hung  with 
magnificent  tapestry,  ended  in  a  platform,  also  of  wood, 
erected  before  the  principal  entrance,  and  made  to  harmonize 
perfectly  with  the  gothic  architecture  of  this  handsome  met- 
ropolitan church.  This  platform  rested  upon  four  columns, 
decorated  with  inscriptions  in  letters  of  gold,  enumerating 
the  names  of  the  principal  towns  of  France,  whose  mayors 
had  been  deputized  to  attend  the  coronation.  Above  these 
columns  was  a  painting  in  relief,  representing  Clovis  and 
Charlemagne  seated  on  their  thrones,  scepter  in  hand;  and 
in  the  center  of  this  frontispiece  were  presented  the  arms 
of  the  Empire,  draped  with  the  banners  of  the  sixteen 
cohorts  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  while  on  each  side  were 
towers,  surmounted  by  golden  eagles.  The  inside  of  this 
portico,  as  well  as  the  gallery,  was  shaped  like  a  roof, 
painted  sky-blue,  and  sown  with  stars. 

The  throne  of  their  Majesties  was  erected  on  a  stage 
in  the  shape  of  a  semicircle,  and  covered  with  a  blue, 


THE  CORONATION.  305 

carpet  studded  with  bees,  and  was  reached  by  twenty-two 
steps.  The  throne,  draped  in  red  velvet,  was  also  covered 
by  a  pavilion  of  the  same  color,  the  left  wing  of  which  ex- 
tended over  the  Empress,  the  princesses,  and  their  maids  of 
honor,  and  the  right  over  the  two  brothers  of  the  Emperor, 
with  the  arch-chancelor  and  the  arch-treasurer. 

Nothing  could  be  grander  than  the  bird's-eye  view  of 
the  garden  of  the  Tuileries  on  the  evening  of  this  auspi- 
cious day,  —  the  grand  parterre,  encircled  by  illuminated 
colonnades  from  arch  to  arch  of  which  were  festooned  gar- 
lands of  rose-colored  lights ;  the  grand  promenade  outlined 
by  columns,  above  which  stars  glittered;  the  terraces  on 
each  side  filled  with  orange-trees,  the  branches  of  which 
were  covered  with  innumerable  lights  ;  while  every  tree  on 
the  adjoining  walks  presented  as  brilliant  a  spectacle  ;  and 
finally,  to  crown  all  this  magnificent  blaze  of  light,  an  im- 
mense star  was  suspended  above  the  Place  de  la  Con- 
corde, and  outshone  all  else.  This  might  in  truth  be  called 
a  palace  of  fire. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  coronation  his  Majesty  made 
magnificent  presents  to  the  metropolitan  church.  I  re- 
marked, among  other  things,  a  chalice  ornamented  with 
bas-reliefs,  designed  by  the  celebrated  Germain,  a  pyx,  two 
flagons  with  the  waiter,  a  holy-water  vessel,  and  a  plate  for 
offerings,  the  whole  in  silver  gilt,  and  beautifully  engraved. 
By  the  orders  of  his  Majesty,  transmitted  through  the  minis- 
ter of  the  interior,  there  was  also  presented  to  M.  d' Astros, 
canon  of  Notre  Dame,  a  box  containing  the  crown  of  thorns, 
a  nail,  and  a  piece  of  the  wood  of  the  true  cross,  and 
a  small  vial,  containing,  it  was  said,  some  of  the  blood  of 
our  Lord,  with  an  iron  scourge  which  Saint  Louis  had 


306  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

used,  and  a  tunic  which  had  also  belonged  to  that 
king. 

In  the  morning  Marshal  Murat,  Governor  of  Paris,  had 
given  a  magnificent  breakfast  to  the  princes  of  Germany 
who  had  come  to  Paris  in  order  to  be  present  at  the  corona- 
tion; and  after  breakfast  the  marshal-governor  conveyed 
them  to  Notre  Dame  in  four  carriages,  each  drawn  by  six 
horses,  accompanied  by  an  escort  of  a  hundred  men  on 
horseback,  and  commanded  by  one  of  his  aides-de-camp. 
This  escort  was  especially  noticeable  for  the  elegance  and 
richness  of  its  uniforms. 

The  day  after  this  grand  and  memorable  solemnity  was 
one  of  public  rejoicing.  From  the  early  morning  an 
immense  crowd  of  the  populace,  enjoying  the  magnificent 
weather,  spread  itself  over  the  boulevards,  the  quays,  and 
the  public  squares,  on  which  were  prepared  an  infinite 
variety  of  amusements. 

The  heralds-at-arms  went  at  an  early  hour  through  all 
the  public  places,  throwing  to  the  crowd,  which  pressed 
around  them,  medals  struck  in  memory  of  the  coronation. 
These  medals  represented  on  one  side  the  likeness  of  the 
Emperor,  his  brow  encircled  with  the  crown  of  the  Caesars, 
with  this  motto :  Napoleon,  Empereur.  On  the  reverse 
side  was  the  figure  of  a  magistrate,  with  the  attributes  of 
his  office  around  him,  and  that  of  an  ancient  warrior,  bear- 
ing on  a  shield  a  hero  crowned,  and  covered  with  the  im- 
perial mantle.  Above  was  written:  The  Senate  and  the 
People.  Soon  after  the  passage  of  the  heralds-at-arms  the 
rejoicings  commenced,  and  were  prolonged  far  into  the 
evening. 

There  had  been  erected  on  the  Place  Louis  XV.,  which 


PUBLIC  REJOICINGS.  307 

was  called  then  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  four  large  square 
rooms  of  temporary  woodwork,  for  dancing  and  waltzing. 
Stages  for  the  presentation  of  pantomimes  and  farces  were 
placed  on  the  boulevards  here  and  there ;  groups  of  singers 
and  musicians  executed  national  airs  and  warlike  marches ; 
greased  poles,  rope-dancers,  sports  of  all  kinds,  attracted 
the  attention  of  promenaders  at  every  step,  and  enabled 
them  to  await  without  impatience  the  illuminations  and 
the  fireworks. 

The  display  of  fireworks  was  most  admirable.  From 
the  Place  Louis  XV.  to  the  extreme  end  of  the  Boulevard 
Saint-Antoine,  ran  a  double  line  of  colored  lights  in  fes- 
toons. The  palace  of  the  Corps-Legislatif,  formerly  the 
Garde-Meuble,  was  resplendent  with  lights,  and  the  gates 
of  Saint^Denis  and  Saint-Martin  were  covered  with  lamps 
from  top  to  bottom. 

In  the  evening  all  those  interested  betook  themselves  to 
the  quays  and  bridges,  in  order  to  witness  the  fireworks 
which  were  set  off  from  the  Bridge  de  la  Concorde  (now 
called1  Bridge  Louis  XVI.),  and  which  far  surpassed  in 
magnificence  all  that  had  ever  been  seen. 

1  1830.    Now  it  is  again  the  Bridge  de  la  Concorde.  — TRANS. 


308  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

Ceremonies  accompanying  tho  distribution  of  the  eagles. — The  Emperor's 
address.  —  The  oath.  —  The  grand  review  in  the  rain.  —  Banquet  at  tho 
Tuileries.  —  Panegyric  on  conscription  made  by  the  Emperor.  —  Grand 
receptions.  —  fete  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville  in  Paris. — "Well-regulated  dis- 
tribution of  provisions.  —  The  vessel  of  fire.  —  Passage  of  Mt.  St.  Ber- 
nard in  a  blaze  of  light.  —  Gold  toilet-set  presented  to  their  Majesties  by 
the  city  of  Paris.  —  Monsieur  Garnerin's  balloon.  —  Curious  incident.  — 
Voyage  through  the  air  from  Paris  to  Rome  in  twenty-four  hours.  — 
Monsieur  Garnerin's  note  and  Cardinal  Caprara's  letter. — The  boatman 
and  the  floating  house.  —  Fifteen  leagues  an  hour.  —  The  balloon  ascen- 
sion. —  Bravery  of  two  women.  —  Gratuities  granted  by  the  city  of  Paris.  — 
Kindness  of  the  Emperor  and  his  brother  Louis.  —  Pardon  granted  by  the 
Emperor.  —  Statue  erected  to  the  Emperor  in  the  hall  of  the  Corps-Legis- 
latif.  —  The  Empress  Josephine  and  the  chorus  of  Gliick.  —  Happy  coin- 
cidence. —  Tho  statue  unveiled  by  Marshals  Murat  and  Massena.  — 
Selection  from  an  eulogium  on  the  Emperor  pronounced  by  M.  de  Vau- 
blanc.  —  The  bouquet  and  the  ball.  —  Profusion  of  flowers  in  the  month 
of  January. 

WEDNESDAY,  Dec.  5,  three  days  after  the  coronation, 
the  Emperor  made  a  distribution  of  the  colors  on  the 
Champ-de-Mars. 

In  front  of  1'^cole-Militaire  a  balcony  was  erected,  cov- 
ered with  awnings,  and  placed  on  a  level  with  the  apart- 
ments on  the  first  floor.  The  middle  awning,  supported  by 
four  columns,  each  one  of  which  was  a  gilded  figure  repre- 
senting Victory,  covered  the  throne  on  which  their  Majes- 
ties were  seated.  A  most  fortunate  precaution,  for  on  that 
day  the  weather  was  dreadful ;  the  thaw  had  come  sud- 
denly, and  every  one  knows  what  a  Paris  thaw  is. 

Around  the  throne  were  ranged  princes  and  princesses, 


PDA.CJBOKAE 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  THE  EAGLES.  309 

grand  dignitaries,  ministers,  marshals  of  the  Empire,  grand 
officers  of  the  crown,  the  ladies  of  the  court,  and  the  council 
of  state. 

This  balcony  was  divided  on  the  right  and  left  into 
sixteen  compartments,  decorated  with  banners,  and  crowned 
with  eagles,  these  divisions  representing  the  sixteen  cohorts 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  Those  on  the  right  were  occu- 
pied by  the  Senate,  the  officers  of  the  Legion  of  Honor, 
the  court  of  appeals,  and  the  chiefs  of  the  national  treasuiy, 
and  those  on  the  left  by  the  Tribunate  and  the  Corps- 
Legislatif. 

At  each  end  of  the  balcony  was  a  pavilion.  That  on 
the  side  next  the  city  was  styled  the  imperial  tribune,  and 
intended  for  foreign  princes,  while  the  diplomatic  corps  and 
foreign  personages  of  distinction  filled  the  other  pavilion. 

From  this  gallery  an  immense  staircase  descended  into 
the  Champ-de-Mars,  the  first  step  of  which  formed  a  bench 
below  the  tribunes,  and  was  occupied  by  the  presidents  of 
the  cantons,  the  prefects,  the  sub-prefects,  and  the  members 
of  the  municipal  council.  On  each  side  of  this  staircase 
were  placed  the  colossal  figures  of  France  making  peace 
and  France  making  war.  Upon  the  steps  were  seated  the 
colonels  of  regiments,  and  the  presidents  of  the  electoral 
colleges  of  the  department,  holding  aloft  the  imperial 
eagles. 

The  cortege  of  their  Majesties  set  out  at  noon  from 
the  chateau  of  the  Tuileries,  in  the  same  order  adopted  at 
the  coronation :  the  chasseurs  of  the  guard  and  the  squad- 
rons of  mamelukes  marcliing  in  front,  the  Legion  d'  Elite 
and  the  mounted  grenadiers  following  the  municipal  guard ; 
while  the  grenadiers  of  the  guard  closed  up  the  line.  Their 


310  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

Majesties  having  entered  1'Ecole-Militaire,  received  the 
homage  of  the  diplomatic  corps,  who  were  stationed  for  this 
purpose  in  the  reception-rooms.  Then  the  Emperor  and 
Empress,  having  donned  their  insignia  of  royalty,  took  their 
seats  upon  the  throne,  while  the  air  was  rent  with  reiter- 
ated discharges  of  artillery  and  universal  acclamations.  At 
a  given  signal  the  deputations  of  the  army,  scattered  over 
the  Champ-de-Mars,  placed  themselves  in  solid  column, 
and  approached  the  throne  amid  a  flourish  of  trumpets. 
The  Emperor  then  rose,  and  immediately  a  deep  silence 
ensued,  while  in  a  loud,  clear  tone  he  pronounced  these 
words,  "  Soldiers,  behold  your  standards  !  These  eagles  will 
serve  you  always  as  a  rallying-point.  They  will  go  wher- 
ever your  Emperor  may  judge  their  presence  necessary 
for  the  defense  of  his  throne  and  of  his  people.  Will 
you  swear  to  sacrifice  even  your  lives  in  their  defense,  and 
to  keep  them  always  by  your  valor  in  the  path  to  vic- 
tory? Do  you  swear  it?"  —"We  swear  it,"  repeated  all 
the  colonels  in  chorus,  while  the  presidents  of  the  colleges 
waved  the  flags  they  bore.  "  We  swear  it,"  said  in  its 
turn  the  whole  army,  while  the  bands  played  the  celebrated 
march  known  as  "  The  March  of  the  Standards." 

This  intense  enthusiasm  was  communicated  to  the  spec- 
tators, who,  in  spite  of  the  rain,  pressed  in  crowds  upon 
the  terraces  which  surrounded  the  inclosure  of  the  Champ- 
de-Mars.  Soon  the  eagles  took  their  designated  places, 
and  the  army  denied  in  divisions  before  the  throne  of 
their  Majesties. 

Although  nothing  had  been  spared  to  give  this  ceremony 
every  possible  magnificence,  it  was  by  no  means  brilliant. 
It  is  true,  the  object  of  the  occasion  was  imposing;  but 


THE  BANQUET  AT  THE   TUILERIES.  311 

how  could  an  impressive  ceremony  be  held  in  a  deluge 
of  melted  snow,  and  amid  a  sea  of  mud,  which  was  the 
appearance  the  Champ-de-Mars  presented  that  day?  The 
troops  were  under  arms  from  six  in  the  morning,  exposed 
to  rain,  and  forced  to  endure  it  with  no  apparent  necessity 
—  so  at  least  they  regarded  it.  The  distribution  of  stan- 
dards was  to  these  men  nothing  more  than  a  review;1  and 
surely  it  must  strike  a  soldier  as  a  very  different  matter 
to  brave  the  weather  on  the  field  of  battle,  from  what  it 
is  to  stand  idle,  exposed  to  it  for  hours,  with  shining  gun 
and  empty  cartridge-box,  on  a  parade-day. 

The  cortege  returned  to  the  Tuileries  at  five  o'clock, 
after  which  there  was  a  grand  banquet  in  the  gallery  of 
Diana,  at  which  the  Pope,  the  sovereign  elector  of  Ratis- 
bonne,  the  princes  and  princesses,  the  grand  dignitaries,  the 
diplomatic  corps,  and  many  other  persons  were  guests. 
Their  Majesties'  table  was  placed  in  the  midst  of  the  gal- 
lery, upon  a  platform,  and  covered  with  a  magnificent 
canopy,  under  which  the  Emperor  seated  himself  on  the 
right  of  the  Empress,  and  the  Pope  on  her  left.  The  ser- 
ving was  done  by  the  pages.  The  grand  chamberlain,  the 
grand  equerry,  and  the  colonel-general  of  the  guard  stood 
before  his  Majesty;  the  grand  marshal  of  the  palace  on  his 
right,  and  in  front  of  the  table,  and  lower  down,  the  pre- 
fect of  the  palace ;  on  the  left,  and  opposite  the  grand 
marshal,  was  the  grand  master  of  ceremonies ;  all  these 
also  standing.  On  either  side  of  their  Majesties'  table 
were  those  of  their  imperial  highnesses,  of  the  diplomatic 
corps,  of  the  ministers  and  grand  officers,  and  lastly  that 
of  the  ladies  of  honor.  At  night  there  was  given  a  recep- 

1  Had  Constant  been  a  soldier  he  would  not  have  said  this.  —  TRANS. 


312  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

tion,  concert,  and  ball.  The  day  after  the  distribution  of 
the  eagles,  his  imperial  highness  Prince  Joseph  presented  to 
his  Majesty  the  presidents  of  the  electoral  colleges  of  the 
departments ;  and  the  presidents  of  the  colleges  of  the 
arrondissements  and  their  prefects  were  next  introduced, 
and  received  by  his  Majesty. 

The  Emperor  conversed  with  the  greater  part  of  these 
officials  on  the  needs  of  each  department,  and  thanked 
them  for  their  zeal  in  assisting  him.  Then  he  recom- 
mended to  them  especially  the  execution  of  the  conscript 
law.  "Without  conscription,"  said  his  Majesty,  "we 
should  have  neither  power  nor  national  independence.  All 
Europe  is  subject  to  conscription.  Our  success  and  the 
strength  of  our  position  depend  on  our  having  a  national 
army,  and  it  is  necessary  to  maintain  this  advantage  with 
the  greatest  care." 

These  presentations  occupied  several  days,  during  which 
his  Majesty  received  in  turn,  and  always  with  the  same  cere- 
monial, the  presidents  of  the  high  courts  of  justice,  the 
presidents  of  the  councils-general  of  departments,  the  sub- 
prefects,  the  deputies  of  the  colonies,  the  mayors  of  the 
thirty-six  principal  cities,  the  presidents  of  the  cantons,  the 
vice-presidents  of  the  chambers  of  commerce,  and  the  presi- 
dents of  the  consistories. 

Some  days  later  the  city  of  Paris  gave,  in  honor  of  their 
Majesties,  a,  fete  whose  brilliance  and  magnificence  surpassed 
any  description  that  could  possibly  be  given.  On  this  occa- 
sion the  Emperor,  the  Empress,  and  the  princes  Joseph  and 
Louis,  rode  together  in  the  coronation  carriage ;  and  batteries 
placed  upon  the  Pont-Neuf  announced  the  moment  at  which 
their  Majesties  began  to  ascend  the  steps  of  the  Hotel  de 


FETE  AT  THE  HOTEL  DE  V1LLE.  313 

Ville.  At  the  same  time,  buffets  with  pieces  of  fowl  and 
fountains  of  wine  attracted  an  immense  crowd  to  the  chief 
squares  of  each  of  the  twelve  municipalities  of  Paris, 
almost  every  individual  of  which  had  his  share  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  eatables,  thanks  to  the  precaution  which  the 
authorities  took  of  distributing  to  none  except  those  who 
presented  tickets.  The  front  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville  was 
brilliant  with  colored  lamps ;  but  what  seemed  to  me  the 
finest  part  of  the  whole  display  was  a  vessel  pierced  for 
eighty  cannon,  whose  decks,  masts,  sails,  and  cordage  were 
distinctly  outlined  in  colored  lights.  The  crowning  piece 
of  all,  which  the  Emperor  himself  set  off,  represented 
the  Saint-Bernard  as  a  volcano  in  eruption,  in  the  midst  of 
glaciers  covered  with  snow.  In  it  appeared  the  Emperor, 
glorious  in  the  light,  seated  on  his  horse  at  the  head  of 
his  army,  climbing  the  steep  summit  of  the  mountain. 
More  than  seven  hundred  persons  attended  the  ball,  and 
yet  there  was  no  confusion.  Their  Majesties  withdrew 
early.  The  Empress,  on  entering  the  apartment  prepared 
for  her  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  had  found  there  a  most  mag- 
nificent toiletrservice,  all  in  gold.  After  it  was  brought 
to  the  Tuileries  it  was  for  many  days  her  Majesty's  chief 
source  of  entertainment  and  subject  of  conversation.  She 
wished  every  one  to  see  and  admire  it;  and,  in  truth,  no 
one  who  saw  it  could  fail  to  do  so.  Their  Majesties  gave 
permission  that  this,  with  a  service  which  the  city  had 
presented  to  the  Emperor,  should  be  placed  on  exhibition 
for  several  days,  for  the  gratification  of  the  public. 

After  the  fireworks  a  superb  balloon  was  sent  up,  the 
whole  circumference  of  which,  with  the  basket,  and  the 
ropes  which  attached  it  to  the  balloon,  were  decorated  with 


314  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

countless  festoons  of  colored  lights.  This  enormous  body 
of  colored  fire  rising  slowly  and  majestically  into  the  air 
was  a  magnificent  spectacle.  It  remained  suspended  for  a 
while  exactly  over  the  city  of  Paris,  as  if  to  wait  till  pub- 
He  curiosity  was  fully  satisfied,  then,  having  reached  a  height 
at  which  it  encountered  a  more  rapid  current  of  air,  it 
suddenly  disappeared,  driven  by  the  wind  towards  the 
south.  After  its  disappearance  it  was  thought  of  no  more, 
but  fifteen  days  later  a  very  singular  incident  recalled  it 
to  public  attention. 

While  I  was  dressing  the  Emperor  the  first  day  of  the 
year,  or  the  day  before,  one  of  his  ministers  was  intro- 
duced ;  and  the  Emperor  having  inquired  the  news  in 
Paris,  as  he  always  did  of  those  whom  he  saw  early  in  the 
morning,  the  minister  replied,  "I  saw  Cardinal  Caprara 
late  yesterday  evening,  and  I  learned  from  him  a  very 
singular  circumstance." •— " What  was  it?  about  what?" 
and  his  Majesty,  imagining  doubtless  that  it  was  some 
political  incident,  was  preparing  to  carry  off  his  min- 
ister into  his  cabinet,  before  having  completed  his  toilet, 
when  his  Excellency  hastened  to  add,  "  Oh,  it  is  nothing 
very  serious,  Sire !  Your  Majesty  doubtless  remembers 
that  they  have  been  discussing  lately  in  the  circle  of  her 
Majesty  the  Empress  the  chagrin  of  poor  Garnerin,  who 
has  not  succeeded  up  to  this  time  in  finding  the  balloon 
which  he  sent  up  on  the  day  of  the  fete  given  to  your 
Majesty  by  the  city  of  Paris.  He  has  at  last  received  news 
of  his  balloon." -  — "  Where  did  it  fall?"  asked  the  Emperor. 
"At  Rome,  Sire!  "  —"Ah,  that  is  really  very  singular." 
— "  Yes,  Sire ;  Garnerin's  balloon  has  thus,  in  twenty- 
four  hours,  shown  your  imperial  crown  in  the  two  capitals 


MONSIEUR   GABNEEIN'S  BALLOON.  315 

of  the  world."  Then  the  minister  related  to  his  Majesty 
the  following  details,  which  were  published  at  the  time, 
but  which  I  think  sufficiently  interesting  to  be  repeated 
here. 

Garnerin  had  attached  to  his  balloon  the  following 
notice :  — 

"  The  balloon  carrying  this  letter  was  sent  up  at  Paris  on  the 
evening  of  the  25th  Frimaire  (Dec.  16)  by  Monsieur  Garnerin,  special 
aeronaut  of  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  and  ordinary  aero- 
naut of  the  French  government,  on  the  occasion  of  a  fete  given  by  the 
city  of  Paris  to  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  celebrating  his  coronation. 
Whoever  finds  this  balloon  will  please  inform  M.  Garnerin,  who  will 
go  to  the  spot." 

The  aeronaut  expected,  doubtless,  to  receive  notice 
next  day  that  his  balloon  had  fallen  in  the  plain  of  Saints 
Denis,  or  in  that  of  Grenelle ;  for  it  is  to  be  presumed 
that  he  hardly  dreamed  of  going  to  Rome  when  he  en- 
gaged to  go  to  the  spot.  More  than  fifteen  days  passed 
before  he  received  the  expected  notice ;  and  he  had  prob- 
ably given  up  his  balloon  as  lost,  when  there  came  the 
following  letter  from  the  nuncio  of  his  Holiness :  — 

"Cardinal  Caprara  is  charged  by  his  Excellency  Cardinal  Gon- 
salvi,  Secretary  of  State  of  His  Holiness,  to  remit  to  M.  Garnerin  a 
copy  of  a  letter  dated  Dec.  18.  He  hastens  to  send  it,  and  also  to 
add  a  copy  of  the  note  which  accompanied  it.  The  cardinal  also  takes 
this  occasion  to  assure  Monsieur  Garnerin  of  his  highest  esteem." 

To  this  letter  was  added  a  translation  of  the  report 
made  to  the  cardinal,  secretary  of  state  at  Rome,  by  the 
Duke  of  Mondragone,  and  dated  from  Anguillora,  near 
Rome,  Dec.  18  :  — 


316  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

"  Yesterday  evening  about  twenty-four  o'clock *  there  passed 
through  the  air  a  globe  of  astonishing  size,  which  fell  upon  Lake 
Bracciano,  and  had  the  appearance  of  a  house.  Boatmen  were  sent 
to  bring  it  to  land ;  but  they  were  not  able  to  do  so,  as  a  high  wind 
prevailed,  accompanied  by  snow.  This  morning  early  they  succeeded 
in  bringing  it  ashore.  This  globe  is  of  oiled  silk,  covered  with  net- 
ting, and  the  wire  gallery  is  a  little  broken.  It  seems  to  have  been 
lighted  by  lamps  and  colored  lanterns,  of  which  much  debris  remains. 
Attached  to  the  globe  was  found  the  following  notice  "  (which  is 
given  above). 

Thus  we  see  that  this  balloon,  which  left  Paris  at  seven 
o'clock  on  the  evening  of  Dec.  16,  had  fallen  next  day,  the 
17th,  near  Rome,  at  twenty-four  o'clock,  that  is  to  say,  at 
sunset.  It  had  crossed  France,  the  Alps,  etc.,  and  passed 
over  a  space  of  more  than  three  hundred  leagues  hi  twenty- 
two  hours,  its  rate  of  speed  being  then  fifteen  leagues  (45 
miles)  per  hour;  and,  what  renders  this  still  more  remark- 
able, is  the  fact  that  its  weight  was  increased  by  decora- 
tions weighing  five  hundred  pounds. 

An  account  of  the  former  trips  of  this  balloon  will  not 
be  without  interest.  Its  first  ascension  was  made  in  the 
presence  of  their  Prussian  Majesties  and  the  whole  court, 
upon  which  occasion  it  carried  M.  Garnerin,  his  wife,  and 
M.  Gaertner,  and  descended  upon  the  frontiers  of  Saxony. 

The  second  ascension  was  at  St.  Petersburg,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Emperor,  the  two  Empresses,  and  the  court, 
carrying  Monsieur  and  Madame  Garnerin;  and  it  fell  a 
short  distance  off  in  a  marsh.  This  was  the  first  balloon 
ascension  ever  seen  in  Russia. 

The  third  trial  was  also  at  St.  Petersburg,  in  the  presence 
of  the  imperial  family.  M.  Garnerin  ascended,  accompanied 

1  In  Italy  the  hours  are  numbered  up  to  twenty-four.  —  TRANS. 


MONSIEUR   GARNERIN 'S  BALLOON.  317 

by  General  Suolf ;  and  the  two  travelers  were  transported 
across  the  Gulf  of  Friedland  in  three-quarters  of  an  hour, 
and  descended  at  Krasnoe-selo,  twenty-five  versts  from  St. 
Petersburg.  The  fourth  trial  took  place  at  Moscow,  and 
Garnerin  ascended  more  than  four  thousand  toises.1  He 
had  many  harrowing  experiences,  and  at  the  end  of  seven 
hours  descended  three  hundred  and  thirty  versts 2  from 
Moscow,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  old  frontiers  of  Russia. 
This  same  balloon  was  again  used  at  the  ascension  which 
Madame  Garnerin  made  at  Moscow  with  Madame  Touche- 
ninolf,  in  the  midst  of  a  frightful  storm,  and  amid  flashes 
of  lightning  which  killed  three  men  within  three  hundred 
paces  of  the  balloon,  at  the  very  instant  of  the  ascension. 
These  ladies  descended  without  accident  twenty-one  versts 
from  Moscow. 

The  city  of  Paris  gave  a  gratuity  of  six  hundred  francs 
to  the  boatmen  who  had  drawn  out  of  Lake  Bracciano  the 
balloon,  which  was  brought  back  to  Paris,  and  placed  in 
the  museum  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville. 

I  was  a  witness  that  same  day  of  the  kindness  with  which 
the  Emperor  received  the  petition  of  a  poor  woman,  a  no- 
tary's wife,  I  believe,  whose  husband  had  been  condemned 
on  account  of  some  crime,  I  know  not  what,  to  a  long 
imprisonment.  As  the  carriage  of  their  Imperial  Majesties 
passed  before  the  Palais-Royal,  two  women,  one  already  old, 
the  other  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  of  age,  sprang  to  the 
door,  crying,  "Pardon  for  my  husband,  pardon  for  my 
father." 

The  Emperor  immediately,  in  a  loud  tone,  gave  the 
order  to  stop  his  carriage,  and  held  out  his  hand  for  the 
1  24,000  feet,  or  about  4£  miles.  —  TRANS.  2  About  200  miles.  —TRANS. 


318  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

petition  which  the  older  of  the  two  women  would  give  to 
no  one  but  him,  at  the  same  time  consoling  her  with  kind 
words,  and  showing  a  most  touching  interest  lest  she  might 
be  hurt  by  the  horses  of  the  marshals  of  the  empire,  who 
were  on  each  side  of  the  carriage.  While  this  kindness  of 
his  august  brother  was  exciting  to  the  highest  pitch  the  en- 
thusiasm and  sensibilities  of  the  witnesses  of  this  scene, 
Prince  Louis,  seated  on  the  front  seat  of  the  carriage,  also 
leaned  out,  trying  to  reassure  the  trembling  young  girl,  and 
urging  her  to  comfort  her  mother,  and  count  with  certainty 
on  the  Emperor's  favorable  consideration.  The  mother  and 
daughter,  overcome  by  their  emotion,  could  make  no  reply ; 
and  as  the  cortege  passed  on,  I  saw  the  former  on  the  point 
of  falling  in  a  swoon.  She  was  carried  into  a  neighboring 
house,  where  she  revived,  and  with  her  daughter  shed  tears 
of  gratitude  and  joy. 

The  Corps  Legislatif  had  decreed  that  a  statue,  in  white 
marble,  should  be  erected  to  the  Emperor  in  their  assembly 
hall,  to  commemorate  the  completion  of  the  Civil  Code. 
On  the  day  of  the  unveiling  of  this  monument,  her  Majesty 
the  Empress,  the  princes  Joseph,  Louis,  Borghese,  Bacci- 
ochi,  and  their  wives,  with  other  members  of  the  imperial 
family,  deputations  of  the  principal  orders  of  the  state,  the 
diplomatic  corps,  and  many  foreigners  of  distinction,  the 
marshals  of  the  empire,  and  a  considerable  number  of  gen- 
eral officers,  assembled  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  at 
the  palace  of  the  Legislative  Corps. 

As  the  Empress  appeared  in  the  hall,  the  entire  assem- 
bly rose,  and  a  band  of  music,  stationed  in  the  neighboring 
stand,  rendered  the  well-known  chorus  from  Gliick,  "How 
many  charms!  What  majesty!"  Scarcely  had  the  first 


UNVEILING   OF  THE  STATUE.  319 

strains  of  this  chorus  been  heard  than  each  one  was  struck 
with  the  happy  coincidence,  and  applause  burst  forth  from 
all  sides. 

By  invitation  of  the  president,  Marshals  Murat  and 
Massena  unveiled  the  statue ;  and  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  this 
image  of  the  Emperor,  his  brows  encircled  with  a  crown  of 
laurel,  and  entwined  with  oak  and  olive  leaves.  When 
silence  had  succeeded  to  the  acclamations  excited  by  this 
sight,  M.  de  Vaublanc  mounted  the  tribune,  and  pronounced 
a  discourse,  which  was  loudly  applauded  in  the  assembly, 
whose  sentiments  it  faithfully  expressed. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  orator,  "  you  have  celebrated 
the  completion  of  the  Civil  Code  of  France  by  an  act 
of  admiration  and  of  gratitude ;  you  have  awarded  a  statue 
to  the  illustrious  prince  whose  firmness  and  perseverance 
have  led  to  the  completion  of  that  grand  work,  while  at 
the  same  time  his  vast  intelligence  has  shed  a  most 
glorious  light  over  this  noble  department  of  human  insti- 
tutions. First  Consul  then,  Emperor  of  the  French  to-day, 
he  appears  in  the  temple  of  the  laws,  his  head  adorned 
with  a  triumphal  crown  as  victory  has  so  often  adorned  it, 
while  foretelling  that  this  should  change  to  the  diadem 
of  kings,  and  covered  with  the  imperial  mantle,  noble 
attribute  of  the  highest  of  dignities. 

"  Doubtless,  on  this  solemn  day,  in  presence  of  the 
princes  and  the  great  of  the  state,  before  the  august  person 
whom  the  Empire  honors  for  her  beautiful  character  even 
more  than  for  the  high  rank  of  which  her  virtues  render 
her  so  worthy,  in  this  glorious  fete  in  which  we  would  re- 
unite all  France,  you  will  permit  my  feeble  voice  to  be 
raised  a  moment,  and  to  recall  to  you  by  what  immortal 


320  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

actions  Napoleon  entered   upon  this  wonderful  career  of 
power  and  honor. 

"If  praise  corrupts  weak  minds,  it  is  the  nourishment 
of  great  souls ;  and  the  grand  deeds  of  heroes  are  ties  which 
bind  them  to  their  country.  To  recapitulate  them  is  to 
say  that  we  expect  from  them  a  combination  of  those 
grand  thoughts,  those  generous  sentiments,  those  glorious 
deeds,  so  nobly  rewarded  by  the  admiration  and  gratitude 
of  the  public. 


"  Victorious  in  the  three  quarters  of  the  world,  peace- 
maker of  Europe,  legislator  of  France,  having  bestowed 
and  added  provinces  to  the  Empire,  does  not  this  glorious 
record  suffice  to  render  him  worthy  at  one  and  the  same 
time  both  of  this  august  title  of  Emperor  of  the  French, 
and  this  monument  erected  in  the  temple  of  the  laws? 
And  yet  I  would  wish  to  make  you  forget  these  bril- 
liant recollections  which  I  have  just  recalled.  With  a 
stronger  voice  than  that  which  sounded  his  praises,  I 
would  say  to  you:  erase  from  your  minds  this  glory  of 
the  legislator,  this  glory  of  the  warrior,  and  say  to  your- 
selves, before  the  18th  Brumaire,  when  fatal  laws  were 
promulgated,  and  when  the  destructive  principles  pro- 
claimed anew  were  already  dragging  along  men  and  things 
with  a  rapidity  which  it  would  soon  have  been  impossible 
to  arrest  —  who  appeared  suddenly  like  a  beneficent  star, 
who  came  to  abrogate  these  laws,  who  filled  up  the  half- 
open  abyss?  You  have  survived,  each  one  of  you,  through 
those  threatening  scenes ;  you  live,  and  you  owe  it  to  him 
whose  image  you  now  behold.  You,  who  were  miserable 


VAUBLANC'S  EULOGIUM.  321 

outlaws,  have  returned,  you  breathe  again  the  gentle  air  of 
your  native  land,  you  embrace  your  children,  your  wives, 
your  friends ;  and  you  owe  it  to  this  great  man.  I  speak 
no  longer  of  his  glory,  I  no  longer  bear  witness  to  that; 
but  I  invoke  humanity  on  the  one  side,  gratitude  on  the 
other ;  and  I  demand  of  you,  to  whom  do  you  owe  a  hap- 
piness so  great,  so  extraordinary,  so  unexpected  ?  .  .  .  And 
you,  each  and  all,  reply  with  me — to  the  great  man  whose 
image  we  behold." 

The  president  repeated  in  his  turn  a  similar  eulogium,  in 
very  similar  terms ;  and  few  persons  then  dreamed  of  think- 
ing these  praises  exaggerated,  though  their  opinions  have 
perhaps  changed  since. 

After  the  ceremony  the  Empress,  on  the  arm  of  the 
president,  passed  into  the  hall  of  conference,  where  her 
Majesty's  table  had  been  prepared  under  a  magnificent 
dais  of  crimson  silk,  and  covers  for  nearly  three  hundred 
guests  had  been  laid  by  the  caterer  Robert,  in  the  dif- 
ferent halls  of  the  palace.  To  the  dinner  succeeded  a 
brilliant  ball.  The  most  remarkable  thing  in  this  fete  was 
the  indescribable  luxury  of  flowers  and  shrubs,  which  must 
doubtless  have  been  collected  at  great  expense,  owing 
to  the  severity  of  the  winter.  The  halls  of  Lucrece  and 
of  La  Reunion,  in  which  the  dancing  quadrilles  were 
formed,  resembled  an  immense  parterre  of  roses,  laurel, 
lilac,  jonquils,  lilies,  and  jessamine. 


322  EECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

My  marriage  to  Mademoiselle  Charvet.  —  Presentation  to  Madame  Bonaparte. 
—  General  Bonaparte  opens  letters  addressed  to  his  courier. — General 
Bonaparte  wishes  to  see  Monsieur  and  Madame  Charvet.  —  Monsieur 
Charvet  follows  Madame  Bonaparte  to  Plombieres. — Establishment  of 
Monsieur  Charvet  and  his  family  at  Malmaison. — Madame  Charvet 
private  secretary  of  Madame  Bonaparte.  — Mademoiselles  Louise  and  Zoe 
Charvet  favorites  of  Josephine. — Phantasmagoria  at  Malmaison. — 
Amusements  of  Bonaparte  and  the  ladies  of  Malmaison. — M.  Charvet 
leaves  the  house  for  the  chateau  of  Saint-Cloud. — The  former  porters 
and  scrubbers  of  the  queen  are  given  places.  —  Burning  of  the  chateau, 
and  death  of  Madame  Charvet.  —  The  Empress  wishes  to  see  Mademoi- 
selle Charvet.  —  She  will  be  a  mother  to  her,  and  give  her  a  husband.  — 
The  Empress  complains  to  M.  Charvet  of  not  seeing  his  daughters.  — A 
dowry  is  promised  to  my  wife.  —  Money  wasted  and  promises  forgotten  by 
the  Empress  Josephine.  — •  The  Empress  gives  my  sister-in-law  in  mar- 
riage. —  Very  kind  recommendation  of  the  Empress.  —  My  sister-in-law, 
Mademoiselle  Josephine  Tallien,  and  Mademoiselle  Clemeuce  Cabarus.  — 
Madame  Vigogne  and  the  prottgdes  of  the  Empress.  —  The  young  pupil 
in  danger  of  being  burned.  —  Madame  Vigogne's  presence  of  mind. — 
Visit  to  the  Empress. 

IT  was  the  2d  of  January,  1805,  exactly  a  month  after 
the  coronation,  that  I  formed  with  the  eldest  daughter  of 
M.  Charvet  a  union  which  has  been,  and  will  I  trust  ever 
be,  the  greatest  happiness  of  my  life.  I  promised  the  reader 
to  say  very  little  of  myself ;  and,  in  fact,  how  could  he  be 
interested  in  any  details  of  my  own  private  life  which  did 
not  throw  additional  light  upon  the  character  of  the  great 
man  about  whom  I  have  undertaken  to  write?  Neverthe- 
less, I  will  ask  permission  to  return  for  a  little  while  to  this, 
the  most  interesting  of  all  periods  to  me,  and  which  ex- 


MARRIAGE  OF  CONSTANT.  323 

erted  such  an  influence  upon  my  whole  life.  Surely  he  who 
recalls  and  relates  his  souvenirs  is  not  forbidden  to  attach 
some  importance  to  those  which  most  nearly  concern  himself. 
Moreover,  even  in  the  most  personal  events  of  my  life, 
there  were  instances  in  which  their  Majesties  took  a  part, 
and  which,  from  that  fact,  are  of  importance  in  enabling 
the  reader  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of  the  characters  of 
both  the  Emperor  and  the  Empress. 

My  wife's  mother  had  been  presented  to  Madame  Bona- 
parte during  the  first  campaign  in  Italy,  and  she  had 
been  pleased  with  her;  for  Madame  Bonaparte,  who  was 
so  perfectly  good,  had,  in  her  own  experience,  also  en- 
dured trials,  and  knew  how  to  sympathize  with  the  sor- 
rows of  others. 

She  promised  to  interest  the  General  in  the  fate  of  my 
father-in-law,  who  had  just  lost  his  place  in  the  treasury. 
During  this  time  Madame  Charvet  was  in  correspondence 
with  a  friend  of  her  husband,  who  was,  I  think,  the  courier 
of  General  Bonaparte ;  and  the  latter  having  opened  and  read 
these  letters  addressed  to  his  courier,  inquired  who  was  this 
young  woman  that  wrote  such  interesting  and  intelligent 
letters,  and  Madame  Charvet  well  deserved  this  double 
praise.  My  father-in-law's  friend,  while  replying  to  the 
question  of  the  General-in-chief,  took  occasion  to  relate  the 
misfortunes  of  the  family,  and  the  General  remarked  that, 
on  his  return  to  Paris,  he  wished  to  meet  M.  and  Madame 
Charvet;  in  consequence  of  which  they  were  presented  to 
him,  and  Madame  Bonaparte  rejoiced  to. learn  that  her  pro- 
tegSes  had  also  become  those  of  her  husband.  It  had  been 
decided  that  M.  Charvet  should  follow  the  General  to 
Egypt ;  but  when  my  father-in-law  arrived  at  Toulon, 


324  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Madame  Bonaparte  requested  that  he  should  accompany  her 
to  the  waters  of  Plombieres.  I  have  previously  related  the 
accident  which  occurred  at  Plombieres,  and  that  M.  Charvet 
was  sent  to  Saint-Germain  to  bring  Mademoiselle  Hortense 
from  the  boarding-school  to  her  mother.  On  his  return  to 
Paris,  M.  Charvet  searched  through  all  the  suburbs  to  find 
a  country-seat,  as  the  General  had  charged  his  wife  to 
purchase  one  during  his  absence. 

When  Madame  Bonaparte  decided  on  Malmaison,  M. 
Charvet,  his  wife,  and  their  three  children  were  installed  in 
this  charming  residence. 

My  father-in-law  was  very  faithful  to  the  interests  of 
these  benefactors  of  his  family,  and  Madame  Charvet  often 
acted  as  private  secretary  to  Madame  Bonaparte. 

Mademoiselle  Louise,  who  became  my  wife,  and  Made- 
moiselle Zoe,  her  younger  sister,  were  favorites  of  Madame 
Bonaparte,  especially  the  latter,  who  passed  more  time 
than  Louise  at  Malmaison.  The  condescension  of  their 
noble  protectress  had  rendered  this  child  so  familiar,  that 
she  said  thou  habitually  to  Madame  Bonaparte.  One  day 
she  said  to  her,  "  Thou  art  happy.  Thou  hast  no  mamma 
to  scold  thee  when  thou  tearest  thy  dresses." 

During  one  of  the  campaigns  that  I  made  while  in  the 
service  of  the  Emperor,  I  wrote  to  my  wife,  inquiring  about 
the  life  that  her  sister  led  at  Malmaison.  In  her  answer, 
among  other  things,  she  said  (I  copy  a  passage  from  one 
of  her  letters)  :  "  Sometimes  we  take  part  in  performances 
such  as  I  had  never  dreamed  of.  For  instance,  one  even- 
ing the  saloon  was  divided  in  half  by  a  gauze  curtain, 
behind  which  was  a  bed  arranged  in  Greek  style,  on  which 
a  man  lay  asleep,  clothed  in  long  white  drapery.  Near 


PASSAGE  FROM  A  LETTER.  325 

the  sleeper  Madame  Bonaparte  and  the  other  ladies  beat 
in  unison  (not  in  perfect  accord,  however)  on  bronze  vases, 
making,  as  you  may  imagine,  a  terrible  kind  of  music. 
During  this  charivari,  one  of  the  gentlemen  held  me 
around  the  waist,  and  raised  me  from  the  ground,  while  I 
shook  my  arms  and  legs  in  time  to  the  music.  The  con- 
cert of  these  ladies  awoke  the  sleeper,  who  stared  wildly 
at  me,  frightened  at  my  gestures,  then  sprang  up  and  ran 
with  all  his  might,  followed  by  my  brother,  who  crept  on 
all  fours,  representing  a  dog,  I  think,  which  belonged  to 
this  strange  person.  As  I  was  then  a  mere  child,  I  have 
only  a  confused  idea  of  all  this ;  but  the  society  of  Madame 
Bonaparte  seemed  to  be  much  occupied  with  similar  amuse- 
ments." 

When  the  First  Consul  went  to  live  at  Saint-Cloud,  he 
expressed  his  high  opinion  of  my  father-in-law  in  the  most 
flattering  manner,  and  made  him  concierge  of  the  chateau, 
which  was  a  confidential  position,  the  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities of  which  were  considerable. 

M.  Charvet  was  charged  with  organizing  the  household ; 
and,  by  orders  of  the  First  Consul,  he  selected  from  among 
the  old  servants  of  the  queen  those  to  whom  he  gave  places 
as  porters,  scrubbers,  and  grooms  of  the  chateau,  and  he 
gave  pensions  to  those  unable  to  work. 

When  the  chateau  took  fire  in  1802,  as  I  have  related 
previously,  Madame  Charvet,  being  several  months  preg- 
nant, was  terribly  frightened ;  and  as  it  was  not  thought 
best  to  bleed  her,  she  became  very  ill,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty  years.  Louise  had  been  at  a  boarding-school  for 
several  years ;  but  her  father  now  brought  her  home  to 
keep  house  for  him,  though  she  was  then  only  twelve  years 


326  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

old.  One  of  her  friends  has  kindly  allowed  me  to  see 
a  letter  which  Louise  addressed  to  her  a  short  time  after 
our  marriage,  and  from  which  I  have  made  the  following 
extracts :  — 

"On  my  return  from  boarding-school  I  went  to  see  her  Majesty 
the  Empress  (then  Madame  Bonaparte)  at  the  Tuileries.  I  was  in 
deep  mourning.  She  took  me  on  her  knee,  and  tried  to  console  me, 
saying  that  she  would  be  a  mother  to  me,  and  would  find  me  a  hus- 
band. I  wept,  and  said  that  I  did  not  wish  to  marry.  '  Not  at  pres- 
ent,' replied  her  Majesty,  '  but  that  will  come  ;  be  sure  of  it.'  I  was, 
however,  by  no  means  persuaded  that  this  would  be  the  case.  She 
caressed  me  a  while  longer,  and  I  withdrew.  When  the  First  Consul 
was  at  Saint-Cloud,  all  the  chiefs  of  the  different  departments  of  the 
household  service  assembled  in  the  apartments  of  my  father,  who  was 
the  most  popular,  as  well  as  the  eldest,  member  of  the  household. 
M.  Constant,  who  had  seen  me  as  a  child  at  Malmaison,  found  me 
sufficiently  attractive  at  Saint^Cloud  to  ask  me  of  my  father,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  their  Majesties ;  and  it  was  decided  that  we  should 
be  married  after  the  coronation.  I  was  fourteen  years  old  fifteen  days 
after  our  marriage. 

"  Both  my  sister  and  I  are  always  received  with  extreme  kind- 
ness by  her  Majesty  the  Empress ;  and  whenever,  for  fear  of  annoying 
her,  we  let  some  time  pass  without  going  to  see  her,  she  complains  of 
it  to  my  father.  She  sometimes  admits  us  to  her  morning  toilet, 
which  is  conducted  in  our  presence,  and  to  which  are  admitted  in  her 
apartments  only  her  women,  and  a  few  persons  of  her  household,  who, 
like  us,  count  among  their  happiest  moments  those  in  which  they  can 
thus  behold  this  adored  princess.  The  conversations  are  almost  al- 
ways delightful,  and  her  Majesty  frequently  relates  anecdotes  which  a 
word  from  one  or  another  of  us  recalls  to  her." 

Her  Majesty  the  Empress  had  promised  Louise  a  dowry ; 
but  the  money  which  she  intended  for  that  she  spent  other- 
wise, and  consequently  my  wife  had  only  a  few  jewels  of 
little  value  and  two  or  three  pieces  of  stuff. 


TUE  EMPRESS  FORGETFUL.  327 

M.  Charvet  was  too  refined  to  recall  this  promise  to  her 
Majesty's  recollection.  However,  that  was  the  only  way 
to  get  anything  from  her;  for  she  knew  no  better  how 
to  economize  than  how  to  refuse.  The  Emperor  asked  me 
a  short  time  after  my  marriage  what  the  Empress  had  given 
my  wife,  and  on  my  reply  showed  the  greatest  possible 
vexation ;  no  doubt  because  the  sum  that  had  been  de- 
manded of  him  for  Louise's  dowry  had  been  spent  other- 
wise. His  Majesty  the  Emperor  had  the  goodness,  while 
on  this  subject,  to  assure  me  that  he  himself  would  here- 
after look  after  my  interests,  and  that  he  was  well  satisfied 
with  my  services,  and  would  prove  it  to  me. 

I  have  said  above  that  my  wife's  younger  sister  was  the 
favorite  of  her  Majesty  the  Empress ;  and  yet  she  received 
on  her  marriage  no  richer  dowry  than  Louise,  nevertheless, 
the  Empress  asked  to  have  my  sister-in-law's  husband  pre- 
sented to  her,  and  said  to  him  in  the  most  maternal  tone, 
"Monsieur,  I  recommend  my  daughter  to  you,  and  I  en- 
treat you  to  make  her  happy.  She  deserves  it,  and  I 
earnestly  hope  that  you  know  how  to  appreciate  her!" 
When  my  sister-in-law,  fleeing  from  Compiegne,  in  1814, 
went  with  her  husband's  mother  to  Evreux  for  her  confine- 
ment, the  Empress  sent  by  her  first  valet  de  chambre  every- 
thing necessary  for  a  young  woman  in  that  condition,  and 
even  reproached  her  with  not  having  come  to  Navarre. 

My  sister-in-law  had  been  reared  in  the  same  boarding- 
school  as  Mademoiselle  Josephine  Tallien,  god-daughter  of 
the  Empress,  who  has  since  married  M.  Pelet  de  la  Lozere, 
and  another  daughter  of  Madame  Tallien,  Mademoiselle 
Clemence  Cabarus.  The  school  was  conducted  by  Madame 
Vigogne,  widow  of  the  colonel  of  that  name,  and  an  old 


828  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

friend  of  the  Empress,  who  had  advised  her  to  take  a 
boarding-school,  and  promised  to  procure  for  her  as  many 
pupils  as  she  could.  This  institution  prospered  under  the 
direction  of  this  lady,  who  was  distinguished  for  her  intelli- 
gence and  culture ;  and  she  frequently  brought  to  the  Em- 
press these  protegees,  with  other  young  persons  who  by  good 
conduct  had  earned  this  reward;  and  this  was  made  a 
powerful  means  of  exciting  the  emulation  of  these  children, 
whom  her  Majesty  overwhelmed  with  caresses,  and  pre- 
sented with  little  gifts. 

One  morning  just  as  Madame  Vigogne  was  about  to 
visit  the  Empress,  and  was  descending  the  staircase  to  enter 
her  carriage,  she  heard  piercing  cries  in  one  of  the  school- 
rooms, and,  hastening  to  the  spot,  saw  a  young  girl  with 
her  clothing  on  fire.  With  a  presence  of  mind  worthy  of 
a  mother,  Madame  Vigogne  wrapped  her  pupil  in  the  long 
train  of  her  dress,  and  thus  extinguished  the  flames,  not, 
however,  until  the  hands  of  the  courageous  instructress 
had  been  most  painfully  burned.  She  made  the  visit  to  her 
Majesty  in  this  condition,  and  related  to  her  the  sad  acci- 
dent which  had  occurred  ;  while  her  Majesty,  who  was  easily 
moved  by  eveiything  noble  and  generous,  overwhelmed  her 
with  praises  for  her  courage,  and  was  so  deeply  touched 
that  she  wept  with  admiration,  and  ordered  her  private 
physician  to  give 'his  best  services  to  Madame  Vigogne  and 
her  young  pupil. 


THE  EMPRESS  JOSEPHINE.  329 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Description  of  the  Empress  Josephine.  —  Awaking  of  the  Empress.  —  Details 
of  her  toilet.  —  Audiences  of  the  Empress.  — Reception  of  the  furnishers. 

—  Breakfast  of  the  Empress.  —  Madame  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  first  lady 
of  honor. — The  Empress  plays  billiards.  —  Promenades  in  the  private 
park. — The  Empress  with  her  ladies.  —  The  Emperor  coming  to  surprise 
the  Empress  in  the  saloon.  —  Dinner  of  the  Empress. — The  Emperor 
keeps  it  waiting.  —  The  princes  and  ministers  at  the  Emperor's  table.  — 
The  Empress   and  M.  de  Beaumont.  —  Game    of   backgammon.  —  The 
Empress  one  day  at  the  chase.  —  All  the  ladies  at  their  Majesties'  table.  — 
The  Empress  comes  to  pass  the  night  with  the  Emperor.  — Details  of  the 
awaking  of  the  august  spouses.  —  Fondness  of  the  Empress  for  jewelry. 

—  Anecdote  concerning  the  first  marriage  of  the  Empress.  — Madame  de 
Beauharnais'  pockets. — The  Empress  Josephine's  jewels.  —  The  jewel- 
case  of  Marie  Antoinette  too  siffall  to  hold  Josephine's  jewels.  — The  Em- 
press's remarkable  memory.  —  The  Empress  restores  harmony  between 
the  Emperor  and  his  brothers.  —  The  Empress's  kindness  to  her  valet  de 
chambre.  —  Harshness  of  the  Emperor;  he  wished  to  send  away  M.  Frere. 

—  The  valet  de  chambre  restored  to  favor.  —  Forgets  a  kindness  shown. 

—  Generosity  of  the  Empress.  —  How  the  valets  of  the  Empress  employ 
their  time.  —  Anecdote  concerning  a  daughter  of  M.  de  Beauharnais,  first 
husband  of  Josephine. — The  Empress  marries  her  to  a  prefect  of  the  em- 
pire.—  Devotion  of  the  Empress  to  Eugene  and  Hortense. — Anecdote 
concerning  the  vice-queen  (Amelia  of  Bavaria).  —The  family  portrait.— 
The  Empress  sends  for  me  to  see  this  portrait.  —  Love  of  Josephine  for  her 
grandchildren.  —  A  word  concerning  the  divorce.  —  Letter  of  Prince  Eu- 
gene to  his  wife.  — My  trips  to  Malmaison  after  the  divorce. —Messages 
of  the  Emperor  to  the  Empress  Josephine.  —  My  adieux  to  the  Empress. 

—  Recommendations  of  that  Princess.  —  The  Empress  desires  to  see  the 
Emperor.  —  Visit  to  Josephine  before  the  campaign  of  Russia.  —  Visit 
to  the  Empress  after  this  campaign.  —  Letters  committed  to  me.  —  Con- 
versation with  the  Empress.  —  My  wife  goes  to  see  the  Empress,  and 
shows  her  my  letters.  —  Items  of  the  Empress's  expenses  after  the  di- 
vorce.—  Council  presided  over  by  the  Empress  in  a  linen  dress. — The 
Empress  imposed  upon  by  the  merchants.  —  Politeness  of  the  Empress. 

—  Manner  in  which  Josephine  punished  her  ladies.  —  Quantity  of  valua- 
ble articles  belonging  to  the  Empress.  —  Distribution  among  her  chil- 


330  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

dren  and  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  Emperor.  —  M.  Denon.  —  The 
cabinet  of  antiques  at  Malmaison.  —  M.  Denon  and  the  collection  of 
medals  belonging  to  the  Empress.  —  Visit  of  the  Empress  to  the  Em- 
peror while  I  was  dressing  him.  —  The  infant  and  the  petition.  —  The 
orphan  girl  rescued  from  the  Seine.  — M.  Fabien  Fillet  and  his  wife  at 
the  residence  of  the  Empress.  —  Touching  scene. 

THE  Empress  Josephine  was  of  medium  height,  with  an 
exquisite  figure ;  and  in  all  her  movements  there  was  an  airi- 
ness and  grace  which  gave  to  her  walk  something  ethereal, 
without  detracting  from  the  majesty  of  the  sovereign.  Her 
expressive  countenance  portrayed  all  the  emotions  of  her 
soul,  while  retaining  the  charming  sweetness  which  was  its 
ruling  expression.  In  pleasure,  as  in  grief,  she  was  beau- 
tiful, and  even  against  your  will  you  would  smile  when  she 
smiled ;  if  she  was  sad,  you  would  be  also.  Never  did  a 
woman  justify  better  than  she  the  expression  that  the  eyes 
are  the  mirror  of  the  soul.  Hers  were  of  a  deep  blue,  and 
nearly  always  half  closed  by  her  long  lids,  which  were 
slightly  arched,  and  fringed  with  the  most  beautiful  lashes 
in  the  world  ;  in  regarding  her  you  felt  yourself  drawn  to 
her  by  an  irresistible  power.  It  must  have  been  difficult 
for  the  Empress  to  give  severity  to  that  seductive  look ;  but 
she  could  do  this,  and  well  knew  how  to  render  it  imposing 
when  necessary.  Her  hair  was  very  beautiful,  long  and 
silken,  its  nut-brown  tint  contrasting  exquisitely  with  the 
dazzling  whiteness  of  her  fine  fresh  complexion.  At  the 
commencement  of  her  supreme  power,  the  Empress  still 
liked  to  adorn  her  head  in  the  morning  with  a  red  ma- 
dras handkerchief,  which  gave  her  a  most  piquant  Creole 
air,  and  rendered  her  still  more  charming. 

But  what  more  than  all  else  constituted  the  inexpres- 
sible charm  of  the  Empress's  presence  were  the  ravishing 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPRESS.  331 

tones  of  her  voice.  How  many  times  have  I,  like  many 
others,  stopped  suddenly  on  hearing  that  voice,  simply  to 
enjoy  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  it.  It  cannot  perhaps  be 
said  that  the  Empress  was  a  strictly  beautiful  woman ;  but 
her  lovely  countenance,  expressing  sweetness  and  good  na- 
ture, and  the  angelic  grace  diffused  around  her  person,  made 
her  the  most  attractive  of  women. 

During  her  stay  at  SaimVCloud,  the  Empress  rose  habits 
ually  at  nine  o'clock,  and  made  her  first  toilet,  which  lasted 
till  ten  ;  then  she  passed  into  a  saloon,  where  she  found 
assembled  those  persons  who  had  solicited  and  obtained  the 
favor  of  an  audience ;  and  sometimes  also  at  this  hour,  and 
in  the  same  saloon,  her  Majesty  received  her  tradespeople ; 
and  at  eleven  o'clock,  when  the  Emperor  was  absent,  she 
breakfasted  with  her  first  lady  of  honor  and  a  few  others. 
Madame  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  first  lady  of  honor  to  the 
Empress,  was  a  hunchback,  and  so  small  that  it  was  neces- 
sary, when  she  was  to  have  a  place  at  the  table,  to  heighten 
the  seat  of  her  chair  by  another  very  thick  cushion  made  of 
violet  satin.  Madame  de  la  Rochefoucauld  knew  well  how 
to  efface,  by  means  of  her  bright  and  sparkling,  though 
somewhat  caustic  wit,  her  striking  elegance,  and  her  ex- 
quisite court  manners,  any  unpleasant  impression  which 
might  be  made  by  her  physical  deformity. 

Before  breakfast  the  Empress  had  a  game  of  billiards  ; 
or,  when  the  weather  was  good,  she  walked  in  the  gardens 
or  in  the  inclosed  park,  which  recreation  lasted  only  a 
short  while,  and  her  Majesty  soon  returned  to  her  apart- 
ments, and  occupied  herself  with  embroidery,  while  talking 
with  her  ladies,  like  herself,  occupied  with  some  kind  of 
needlework.  When  it  happened  that  they  were  not  inter- 


332  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

rupted  by  visits,  between  two  and  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  Empress  took  a  drive  in  an  open  barouche ; 
and  on  her  return  from  this  the  grand  toilet  took  place,  at 
which  the  Emperor  was  sometimes  present. 

Now  and  then,  also,  his  Majesty  surprised  the  Empress 
in  her  saloon;  and  we  were  sure  to  find  him,  on  those 
occasions,  amusing,  amiable,  and  in  fine  spirits. 

At  six  o'clock  dinner  was  served ;  this  the  Emperor 
frequently  forgot,  and  delayed  it  indefinitely,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  dinner  was  more  than  once  eaten  at  nine 
or  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Their  Majesties  dined  to- 
gether alone,  or  in  the  company  of  a  few  invited  guests, 
princes  of  the  imperial  family,  or  ministers,  after  which 
there  was  a  concert,  reception,  or  the  theater ;  and  at  mid- 
night every  one  retired  except  the  Empress,  who  greatly 
enjoyed  sitting  up  late,  and  then  played  backgammon  with 
one  of  the  chamberlains.  The  Count  de  Beaumont  was  thus 
honored  most  frequently. 

On  the  days  of  the  chase  the  Empress  and  her  ladies 
followed  in  the  coach.  They  had  a  special  costume  for  this 
occasion,  consisting  of  a  kind  of  green  riding-habit,  and 
a  hat  ornamented  with  white  plumes.  All  the  ladies  who 
followed  the  chase  dined  with  their  Majesties. 

When  the  Empress  spent  the  night  in  the  Emperor's 
apartment,  I  entered  in  the  morning,  as  usual,  between 
seven  and  eight  o'clock,  and  nearly  always  found  the 
august  spouses  awake.  The  Emperor  usually  ordered 
tea,  or  an  infusion  of  orange  flowers,  and  rose  immediately, 
the  Empress  saying  to  him,  with  a  laugh,  "  What,  rising 
already?  Rest  a  little  longer."  --"  Well,  you  are  not 
asleep,  then  ?  "  replied  his  Majesty,  rolling  her  over  in  the 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPRESS.  333 

covering,  giving  her  little  slaps  on  her  cheeks  and  shoul- 
ders, laughing,  and  kissing  her. 

At  the  end  of  a  few  moments  the  Empress  rose  also, 
put  on  a  wrapper,  and  read  the  journals,  or  descended  by 
the  little  communicating  stairway  to  her  own  apartment, 
never  leaving  the  Emperor  without  a  few  words  expressing 
the  most  touching  affection  and  good-will. 

Elegant  and  simple  in  her  dress,  the  Empress  submitted 
with  regret  to  the  necessity  of  toilets  of  state.  Jewels,  how- 
ever, were  much  to  her  taste ;  and,  as  she  had  always  been 
fond  of  them,  the  Emperor  presented  her  with  them  often 
and  in  great  quantities ;  and  she  greatly  enjoyed  adorning 
herself  with  them,  and  still  more  exhibiting  them  to  the 
admiration  of  others. 

One  morning,  when  my  wife  was  present  at  her  toilet, 
her  Majesty  related  that,  being  newly  married  to  M.  de 
Beauharnais,  and  much  delighted  with  the  ornaments  he 
had  given  her,  she  was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  them  around 
in  her  reticule  (reticules  were  then  an  essential  part  of  a 
woman's  dress),  and  showing  them  to  her  young  friends. 

As  the  Empress  spoke  of  her  reticule,  she  ordered 
one  of  her  ladies  to  hunt  for  one  to  show  my  wife.  The 
lady  whom  the  Empress  addressed  could  scarcely  repress 
a  laugh  at  this  singular  request,  and  assured  her  Majesty 
that  there  was  nothing  similar  to  that  now  in  her  wardrobe  ; 
to  which  the  Empress  replied,  with  an  air  of  regret,  that 
she  would  have  really  liked  to  see  again  one  of  her  old 
reticules,  and  that  the  years  had  brought  great  changes. 
The  jewels  of  the  Empress  Josephine  could  hardly  have 
been  contained  in  the  reticule  of  Madame  de  Beauharnais, 
however  long  or  deep  it  might  have  been ;  for  the  jewel- 


334  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

case  which  had  belonged  to  Queen  Marie  Antoinette,  and 
which  had  never  been  quite  full,  was  too  small  for  the 
Empress.  One  day,  when  she  wished  to  exhibit  all  her 
ornaments  to  several  ladies  who  expressed  a  desire  to  see 
them,  it  was  necessary  to  prepare  a  large  table  on  which  to 
place  the  caskets ;  and,  as  this  table  was  not  sufficient, 
several  other  pieces  of  furniture  were  also  covered  with 
them. 

Good  to  excess,  as  every  one  knows,  sympathetic  beyond 
all  expression,  generous  even  to  prodigality,  the  Empress 
made  the  happiness  of v all  who  surrounded  her;  loving  her 
husband  with  a  devotion  which  nothing  ever  changed,  and 
which  was  as  deep  in  her  last  moments  as  at  the  period 
when  Madame  Beauharnais  and  General  Bonaparte  made 
to  each  other  a  mutual  avowal  of  their  love.  Josephine 
was  long  the  only  woman  loved  by  the  Emperor,  as  she 
well  deserved  to  have  ever  been ;  and  for  several  years  the 
harmony  of  this  imperial  household  was  most  touching. 
Attentive,  loving,  and  entirely  devoted  to  Josephine,  the 
Emperor  took  pleasure  in  embracing  her  neck,  her  figure, 
giving  her  taps,  and  calling  her  ma  grosse  bete;  all  of 
which  did  not  prevent,  it  is  true,  his  being  guilty  of  some 
infidelities,  but  without  failing  otherwise  in  his  conjugal 
duties.  On  her  side  the  Empress  adored  him,  sought  by 
every  means  to  please  him,  to  divine  his  wishes,  and  to 
forestall  his  least  desires. 

At  first  she  gave  her  husband  cause  for  jealousy. 
Having  been  strongly  prejudiced  against  her  by  indiscreet 
reports,  during  the  campaign  of  Egypt,  the  Emperor  on 
his  return  had  explanations  with  her,  which  did  not  always 
end  without  lamentations  and  violent  scenes ;  but  peace  was 


THE  EMPRESS'S  MEMORY.  335 

soon  restored,  and  was  thereafter  very  rarely  broken,  for 
the  Emperor  could  not  fail  to  feel  the  influence  of  so  many 
attractions  and  such  loveliness. 

The  Empress  had  a  remarkable  memory,  of  which  the 
Emperor  often  availed  himself;  she  was  also  an  excellent 
musician,  played  well  on  the  harp,  and  sang  with  taste. 
She  had  perfect  tact,  an  exquisite  perception  of  what  was 
suitable,  the  soundest,  most  infallible  judgment  imaginable, 
and,  with  a  disposition  always  lovely,  always  the  same,  in- 
dulgent to  her  enemies  as  to  her  friends,  she  restored  peace 
wherever  there  was  quarrel  or  discord.  When  the  Emperor 
was  vexed  with  his  brothers  or  other  persons,  which  often 
happened,  the  Empress  spoke  a  few  words,  and  everything 
was  settled.  If  she  demanded  a  pardon,  it  was  very  rare 
that  the  Emperor  did  not  grant  it,  however  grave  the 
crime  committed;  and  I  could  cite  a  thousand  examples  of 
pardons  thus  solicited  and  obtained.  One  occurrence  which 
is  almost  personal  to  me  will  sufficiently  prove  how  all- 
powerful  was  the  intercession  of  this  good  Empress. 

Her  Majesty's  head  valet  being  one  day  a  little  affected 
by  the  wine  he  had  taken  at  a  breakfast  with  some  friends, 
was  obliged,  from  the  nature  of  his  duties,  to  be  present  at 
the  time  of  their  Majesties'  dinner,  and  to  stand  behind  the 
Empress  in  order  to  take  and  hand  her  the  plates.  Excited 
by  the  fumes  of  the  champagne,  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
utter  some  improper  words,  which,  though  pronounced  in  a 
low  tone,  the  Emperor  unfortunately  overheard.  His  Maj- 
esty cast  lightning  glances  at  M.  Frere,  who  thus  perceived 
the  gravity  of  his  fault ;  and,  when  dinner  was  over,  gave 
orders  to  discharge  the  impudent  valet,  in  a  tone  which 
left  no  hope  and  permitted  no  reply. 


336  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

Monsieur  Frere  was  an  excellent  servant,  a  gentle,  good, 
and  honest  man ;  it  was  the  first  fault  of  tin's  kind  of  which 
he  could  be  accused,  and  consequently  he  deserved  indul- 
gence. Application  was  made  to  the  grand  marshal,  who 
refused  to  intercede,  well  knowing  the  inflexibility  of  the 
Emperor;  and  many  other  persons  whom  the  poor  man 
begged  to  intercede  for  him  having  replied  as  the  grand 
marshal  had  done,  M.  Frere  came  in  despair  to  bid  us  adieu. 
I  dared  to  take  his  cause  in  hand,  with  the  hope  that  by 
seizing  a  favorable  moment  I  might  succeed  in  appeasing 
his  Majesty.  The  order  of  discharge  required  M.  Frere  to 
leave  the  palace  in  twenty-four  hours ;  but  I  advised  him  not 
to  obey  it,  but  to  keep  himself,  however,  constantly  con- 
cealed in  his  room,  which  he  did.  That  evening  on  retiring, 
his  Majesty  spoke  to  me  of  what  had  passed,  showing  much 
anger,  so  I  judged  that  silence  was  the  best  course  to  take, 
and  therefore  waited ;  but  the  next  day  the  Empress  had  the 
kindness  to  tell  me  that  she  would  be  present  at  her  hus- 
band's toilet,  and  that,  if  I  thought  proper  to  open  the 
matter,,  she  would  sustain  me  with  all  her  influence.  Con- 
sequently, finding  the  Emperor  in  a  good  humor,  I  spoke  of 
M.  Frere;  and  depicting  to  his  Majesty  the  despair  of  this 
poor  man,  I  pointed  out  to  him  the  reasons  which  might  ex- 
cuse the  impropriety  of  his  conduct.  "  Sire,"  said  I,  "  he 
is  a  good  man,  who  has  no  fortune,  and  supports  a  numerous 
family ;  and  if  he  has  to  quit  the  service  of  her  Majesty  the 
Empress,  it  will  not  be  believed  that  it  was  on  account  of  a 
fault  for  which  the  wine  was  more  to  be  blamed  than  he,  and 
he  will  be  utterly  ruined."  To  these  words,  as  well  as  to 
many  other  suggestions,  the  Emperor  only  replied  by  inter- 
ruptions, made  with  every  appearance  of  a  decided  opposi- 


KINDHEARTEDNESS  OF  THE  EMPRESS.  337 

tion  to  the  pardon  which  I  had  requested.  Fortunately  the 
Empress  was  good  enough  to  come  to  my  assistance,  and 
said  to  her  husband  in  her  own  gentle  tones,  always  so 
touching  and  full  of  expression,  "  Mon  ami,  if  you  are 
willing  to  pardon  him,  you  will  be  doing  me  a  favor." 
Emboldened  by  this  powerful  patronage,  I  renewed  my 
solicitations ;  to  which  the  Emperor  at  last  replied  abruptly, 
addressing  himself  to  both  the  Empress  and  myself,  "  In 
short,  you  wish  it ;  well,  let  him  stay  then." 

Monsieur  Frere  thanked  me  with  his  whole  heart,  and 
could  hardly  believe  the  good  news  which  I  brought  him ; 
and  as  for  the  Empress,  she  was  made  happy  by  the  joy  of 
this  faithful  servant,  who  gave  her  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life  every  proof  of  his  entire  devotion.  I  have  been 
assured  that,  in  1814,  on  the  departure  of  the  Emperor  for 
the  Island  of  Elba,  Monsieur  Frere  was  by  no  means  the 
last  to  blame  my  conduct,  the  motive  of  which  he  could 
not  possibly  know ;  but  I  am  not  willing  to  believe  this,  for 
it  seems  to  me  that  in  his  place,  if  I  thought  I  could  not 
defend  an  absent  friend,  I  should  at  least  have  kept  silence. 

As  I  have  said,  the  Empress  was  extremely  generous, 
and  bestowed  much  in  alms,  and  was  most  ingenious  in  find- 
ing occasions  for  their  bestowal.  Many  emigres  lived  solely 
on  her  benefactions ;  she  also  kept  up  a  very  active  corre- 
spondence with  the  Sisters  of  Charity  who  nursed  the  sick, 
and  sent  them  a  multitude  of  things.  Her  valets  were 
ordered  to  go  in  every  direction,  carrying  to  the  needy  the 
assistance  of  her  inexhaustible  benevolence,  while  numer- 
ous other  persons  also  received  each  day  similar  commis- 
sions; and  all  these  alms,  all  these  multiplied  gifts  which 
were  so  widely  diffused,  received  an  inestimable  value  from 


338  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON 

the  grace  with  which  they  were  offered,  and  the  good  judg- 
ment with  which  they  were  distributed.  I  could  cite  a 
thousand  instances  of  this  delicate  generosity. 

Monsieur  de  Beauharnais  had  at  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage to  Josephine  a  natural  daughter  named  Adele.  The 
Empress  reared  her  as  if  she  had  been  her  own  daughter, 
had  her  carefully  educated,  gave  her  a  generous  dowry,  and 
married  her  to  a  prefect  of  the  Empire. 

If  the  Empress  showed  so  much  tenderness  for  a  daugh- 
ter who  was  not  her  own,  it  is  impossible  to  give  an  idea  of 
her  love  and  devotion  to  Queen  Hortense  and  Prince  Eu- 
gene, which  devotion  her  children  fully  returned ;  and  there 
was  never  a  better  or  happier  mother.  She  was  very  proud 
of  her  children,  and  spoke  of  them  always  with  an  enthusi- 
asm which  seemed  veiy  natural  to  all  who  knew  the  Queen 
of  Holland  and  the  Vice-King  of  Italy.  I  have  related 
how,  having  been  left  an  orphan  at  a  very  early  age  by  the 
Revolutionary  scaffold,  young  Beauharnais  had  gained  the 
heart  of  General  Bonaparte  by  an  interview  in  which  he 
requested  of  him  his  father's  sword,  and  that  this  action 
inspired  in  the  General  a  wish  to  become  acquainted  with 
Josephine,  and  the  result  of  that  interview,  all  of  which 
events  are  matters  of  history.  When  Madame  de  Beau- 
harnais had  become  the  wife  of  General  Bonaparte,  Eugene 
entered  on  a  military  career,  and  attached  himself  immedi- 
ately to  the  fortunes  of  his  step-father,  whom  he  accom- 
panied to  Italy  in  the  capacity  of  aide-de-camp.  He  was 
chief  of  squadron  in  the  chasseurs  of  the  Consular  Guard, 
and  at  the  immortal  battle  of  Marengo  shared  all  the 
dangers  of  the  one  who  took  so  much  pleasure  in  calling 
him  his  son.  A  few  years  later  the  chief  of  squadron  had 


JOSEPHINE'S  MATERNAL  LOVE.  339 

become  Vice-King  of  Italy,  the  presumptive  heir  of  the 
imperial  crown  (a  title  which,  in  truth,  he  did  not  long 
preserve),  and  husband  of  the  daughter  of  a  king. 

The  vice-queen  (Augusta  Amelia  of  Bavaria)  was  hand- 
some and  good  as  an  angel.  I  happened  to  be  at  Mal- 
maison  on  the  day  the  Empress  received  the  portrait  of  her 
daughter-in-law,  surrounded  by  three  or  four  children,  one 
upon  her  shoulder,  another  at  her  feet,  and  a  third  in  her 
arms,  all  of  whom  had  most  lovely  faces.  The  Empress, 
seeing  me,  deigned  to  call  me  to  admire  with  her  this  col- 
lection of  charming  heads  ;  and  I  perceived  that,  while 
speaking,  her  eyes  were  full  of  tears.  The-  portraits  were 
well  painted,  and  I  had  occasion  later  to  find  that  they 
were  perfect  likenesses.  From  this  time  the  only  question 
was  playthings  and  rare  articles  of  all  sorts  to  be  bought 
for  these  dear  children,  the  Empress  going  in  person  to 
select  the  presents  she  desired  for  them,  and  having  them 
packed  under  her  own  eyes. 

The  prince's  valet  has  assured  me  that,  at  the  time  of 
the  divorce,  Prince  Eugene  wrote  his  wife  a  very  despond- 
ing letter,  and  perhaps  expressed  in  it  some  regret  at  not 
being  an  adopted  son  of  the  Emperor,  to  which  the  Prin- 
cess replied  most  tenderly,  saying,  among  other  things,  "  It 
is  not  the  heir  of  the  Emperor  whom  I  married  and  whom 
I  love,  but  it  is  Eugene  de  Beauharnais."  The  Prince  read 
this  sentence  and  some  others  in  the  presence  of  the  person 
from  whom  I  have  these  facts,  and  who  was  touched  even 
to  tears.  Such  a  woman  deserved  more  than  a  throne. 

After  that  event,  so  grievous  to  the  heart  of  the  Em- 
press, and  for  which  she  never  found  consolation,  she  left 
Malmaison  no  more,  except  to  make  a  few  visits  to  Navarre. 


340  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Each  time  that  I  returned  to  Paris  with  the  Emperor,  I  had 
no  sooner  arrived  than  my  first  duty  was  to  go  to  Malmaison, 
though  I  was  rarely  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  the  Em- 
peror, as  he  wrote  to  Josephine  only  on  extraordinary 
occasions.  "  Tell  the  Empress  I  am  well,  and  that  I  wish 
her  to  be  happy,"  were  almost  invariably  the  parting  words 
of  the  Emperor  as  I  set  out.  The  moment  I  arrived  the 
Empress  quitted  everything  to  speak  to  me;  and  I  fre- 
quently remained  an  hour  and  often  two  hours  with  her ; 
during  which  time  there  was  no  question  of  anything  save 
the  Emperor.  I  must  tell  her  all  that  he  had  suffered  on 
the  journey,  if  he  had  been  sad  or  gay,  sick  or  well ;  while 
she  wept  over  the  details  as  I  repeated  them,  and  gave 
me  a  thousand  directions  regarding  his  health,  and  the  cares 
with  which  she  desired  I  should  surround  him.  After  this 
she  deigned  to  question  me  about  myself,  my  prospects, 
the  health  of  my  wife,  her  former  protegee ;  and  at  last 
dismissed  me,  with  a  letter  for  his  Majesty,  begging  me  to 
say  to  the  Emperor  how  happy  she  would  be  if  he  would 
come  to  see  her. 

Before  his  departure  for  Russia,  the  Empress,  dis- 
tressed at  this  war,  of  which  she  entirely  disapproved, 
again  redoubled  her  recommendations  concerning  the  Em- 
peror, and  made  me  a  present  of  her  portrait,  saying  to 
me,  "My  good  Constant,  I  rely  on  you;  if  the  Emperor 
were  sick,  you  would  inform  me  of  it,  would  you  not? 
Conceal  nothing  from  me,  I  love  him  so  much." 

Certainly  the  Empress  had  innumerable  means  of  hear- 
ing news  of  his  Majesty ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that,  had  she 
received  each  day  one  hundred  letters  from  those  near 
the  Emperor,  she  would  have  read  and  reread  them  with 
the  same  avidity. 


JOSEPHINE'S  LASTING  AFFECTION.  341 

When  I  had  returned  from  Saini>-Cloud  to  the  Tuile- 
ries,  the  Emperor  asked  me  how  Josephine  was,  and  if  I 
found  her  in  good  spirits ;  he  received  with  pleasure  the 
letters  I  brought,  and  hastened  to  open  them.  All  the 
time  I  was  traveling,  or  on  the  campaign  in  the  suite  of 
his  Majesty,  in  writing  to  my  wife,  I  spoke  of  the  Emperor, 
and  the  good  princess  was  delighted  that  she  showed  my 
letters  to  her.  In  fact,  everything  having  the  least  con- 
nection with  her  husband  interested  the  Empress  to  a 
degree  which  proved  well  the  singular  devotion  that  she 
still  felt  for  him  after,  as  before,  their  separation.  Too 
generous,  and  unable  to  keep  her  expenses  within  her 
income,  it  often  happened  that  the  Empress  was  obliged 
to  send  away  her  furnishers  unpaid  the  very  day  she  had 
herself  fixed  for  the  settlement  of  their  bills ;  and  as  this 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Emperor  on  one  occasion,  there 
ensued  a  very  unpleasant  scene  between  the  Empress  and 
himself,  ending  in  a  decision,  that  in  future  no  merchant 
or  furnisher  should  come  to  the  chateau  without  a  letter 
from  the  lady  of  attire  or  secretary  of  orders ;  and  this 
plan,  once  decided  upon,  was  followed  very  closely  until 
the  divorce.  During  this  explanation  the  Empress  wept 
freely,  and  promised  to  be  more  economical,  upon  which 
the  Emperor  pardoned  and  embraced  her,  and  peace  was 
made,  this  being,  I  think,  the  last  quarrel  of  this  nature 
which  disturbed  the  imperial  household. 

I  have  heard  that  after  the  divorce,  the  allowance  of 
the  Empress  having  been  exceeded,  the  Emperor  reproached 
the  superintendent  of  Malmaison  with  this  fact,  who  in 
turn  informed  Josephine.  His  kind-hearted  mistress,  much 
distressed  at  the  annoyance  which  her  steward  had  expe- 


342  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

rienced,  and  not  knowing  how  to  establish  a  better  order 
of  things,  assembled  a  council  of  her  household,  over  which 
she  presided  in  a  linen  dress  without  ornament ;  this  dress 
had  been  made  in  great  haste,  and  was  used  only  this 
once.  The  Empress,  whom  the  necessity  for  a  refusal 
always  reduced  to  despair,  was  continually  besieged  by 
merchants,  who  assured  her  that  they  had  made  such  or 
such  a  thing  expressly  for  her  own  use,  begging  her  not 
to  return  it  because  they  would  not  be  able  to  dispose  of 
it;  in  consequence  of  which  the  Empress  kept  everything 
they  brought,  though  they  afterwards  had  to  be  paid  for. 

The  Empress  was  always  extremely  polite  in  her  inter- 
course with  the  ladies  of  her  household;  and  a  reproach 
never  came  from  those  lips  which  seemed  formed  to  say 
only  pleasant  things ;  and  if  any  of  her  ladies  gave  her 
cause  of  dissatisfaction,  the  only  punishment  she  inflicted 
was  an  absolute  silence  on  her  part,  which  lasted  one,  two, 
three,  or  even  eight  days,  the  time  being  longer  or  shorter 
according  to  the  gravity  of  the  fault.  And  indeed  this 
penalty,  apparently  so  mild,  was  really  very  cruel  to  many, 
so  well  did  the  Empress  know  how  to  make  herself  adored 
by  those  around  her. 

In  the  time  of  the  Consulate,  Madame  Bonaparte  often 
received  from  cities  which  had  been  conquered  by  her  hus- 
band, or  from  those  persons  who  desired  to  obtain  her 
intercession  with  the  First  Consul,  quantities  of  valuable 
furniture,  curiosities  of  all  kinds,  pictures,  stuffs,  etc.  At 
first  these  presents  delighted  Madame  Bonaparte  greatly; 
and  she  took  a  childish  pleasure  in  having  the  cases  opened 
to  find  what  was  inside,  personally  assisting  in  unpacking 
them,  and  rummaging  through  all  these  pretty  things.  But 


HABITS   OF  TUE  EMPRESS.  343 

soon  these  consignments  became  so  considerable,  and  were 
so  often  repeated,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  place  them 
in  an  apartment,  of  which  my  father-in-law  kept  the  key, 
and  where  the  boxes  remained  untouched  until  it  pleased 
Madame  Bonaparte  to  have  them  opened. 

When  the  First  Consul  decided  that  he  would  take  up 
his  residence  at  Saint-Cloud,  my  father-in-law  was  obliged 
to  leave  Malmaison,  and  install  himself  in  the  new  palace, 
as  the  master  wished  him  to  take  charge  there. 

Before  leaving  Malmaison,  my  father-in-law  rendered 
an  account  to  Madame  Bonaparte  of  everything  committed 
to  his  care,  and  all  the  cases  which  were  piled  up  from 
floor  to  ceiling  in  two  rooms  were  opened  in  her  pres- 
ence. Madame  Bonaparte  was  astonished  at  such  mar- 
velous riches,  comprising  marbles,  bronzes,  and  magnificent 
pictures,  of  which  Eugene,  Hortense,  and  the  sisters  of  the 
First  Consul  received  a  large  part,  and  the  remainder  was 
used  in  decorating  the  apartments  of  Malmaison. 

The  Empress's  love  of  ornaments  included  for  a  while 
antique  curiosities,  cut  stones,  and  medals.  M.  Denon 
flattered  this  whim,  and  ended  by  persuading  the  good 
Josephine  that  she  was  a  perfect  connoisseur  in  antiques, 
and  that  she  should  have  at  Malmaison  a  cabinet,  a  keeper 
for  it,  etc.  This  proposition,  which  flattered  the  self-love  of 
the  Empress,  was  favorably  received ;  the  room  was  selected, 

M.  de  M made  keeper,  and  the  new  cabinet  enriched 

by  diminishing  in  the  same  proportion  the  rich  furniture 
of  the  apartments  of  the  chateau.  M.  Denon,  who  had  ori- 
ginated this  idea,  took  upon  himself  to  make  a  collection 
of  medals ;  but  this  idea,  which  came  so  suddenly,  vanished 
as  suddenly;  the  cabinet  was  changed  into  a  saloon  for 


344  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

guests,  and  the  antiques  relegated  to  the  antechamber  of  the 
bathing-hall,  while  M.  de  M ,  having  no  longer  any- 
thing to  keep,  remained  constantly  in  Paris. 

A  short  time  after  this,  two  ladies  of  the  palace  took  a 
fancy  to  persuade  the  Empress  that  nothing  could  be  hand- 
somer or  more  worthy  of  her  than  a  necklace  of  Greek 
and  Roman  antique  stones  perfectly  matched.  Several 
chamberlains  approved  the  idea,  which,  of  course,  pleased 
the  Empress,  for  she  was  very  fond  of  anything  unique ; 
and  consequently  one  morning,  as  I  was  dressing  the  Em- 
peror, the  Empress  entered,  and,  after  a  little  conversation, 
said,  "Bonaparte,  some  ladies  have  advised  me  to  have  a 
necklace  made  of  antique  stones,  and  I  came  to  ask  you 
to  urge  M.  Denon  to  select  only  very  handsome  ones." 
The  Emperor  burst  out  laughing,  and  refused  flatly  at 
first ;  but  just  then  the  grand  marshal  of  the  palace  arrived, 
and  the  Emperor  informed  him  of  this  request  of  the  Em- 
press, asking  his  opinion.  M.  le  due  de  Frioul l  thought  it 
very  reasonable,  and  joined  his  entreaties  to  those  of  the 
Empress.  "It  is  an  egregious  folly,"  said  the  Emperor; 
"but  we  are  obliged  to  grant  it,  because  the  women  wish 
it,  so,  Duroc,  go  to  the  cabinet  of  antiques,  and  choose 
whatever  is  necessary." 

M.  le  due  de  Frioul  soon  returned  with  the  finest  stones 
in  the  collection,  which  the  crown  jeweler  mounted  magnif- 
icently; but  this  ornament  was  of  such  enormous  weight 
that  the  Empress  never  wore  it. 

Though  I  may  be  accused  of  making  tiresome  repeti- 
tions, I  must  say  that  the  Empress  seized,  with  an  eagerness 
which  cannot  be  described,  on  all  occasions  of  making  bene- 
i  Duroc.  —  TBANS. 


HABITS   OF  THE  EMPRESS.  345 

factions.  For  instance,  one  morning  when  she  was  break- 
fasting alone  with  his  Majesty,  the  cries  of  an  infant  were 
suddenly  heard  proceeding  from  a  private  staircase.  The 
Emperor  was  annoyed  at  this,  and  with  a  frown,  asked 
sharply  what  that  meant.  I  went  to  investigate,  and  found 
a  new-born  child,  carefully  and  neatly  dressed,  asleep  in  a 
kind  of  cradle,  with  a  ribbon  around  its  body  from  which 
hung  a  folded  paper.  I  returned  to  tell  what  I  had  seen ; 
and  the  Empress  at  once  exclaimed,  "  O  Constant !  bring 
me  the  cradle."  The  Emperor  would  not  permit  this  at 
first,  and  expressed  his  surprise  and  disapprobation  that  it 
should  have  been  thus  introduced  into  the  interior  of  his 
apartments,  whereupon  her  Majesty,  having  pointed  out  to 
him  that  it  must  have  been  done  by  some  one  of  the  house- 
hold, he  turned  towards  me,  and  gave  me  a  searching  look, 
as  if  to  ask  if  it  was  I  who  had  originated  this  idea.  I 
shook  my  head  in  denial.  At  that  moment  the  baby  began 
to  cry,  and  the  Emperor  could  not  keep  from  smiling,  still 
growling,  and  saying,  "Josephine,  send  away  that  monkey !" 
The  Empress,  wishing  to  profit  by  this  return  of  good 
humor,  sent  me  for  the  cradle,  which  I  brought  to  her. 
She  caressed  the  little  new-born  babe,  quieted  it,  and 
read  the  paper  attached  to  which  was  a  petition  from  its 
parents.  Then  she  approached  the  Emperor,  insisting  on 
his  caressing  the  infant  himself,  and  pinching  its  fat  little 
cheeks ;  which  he  did  without  much  urging,  for  the  Em- 
peror himself  loved  to  play  with  children.  At  last  her 
Majesty  the  Empress,  having  placed  a  roll  of  napoleons  in 
the  cradle,  had  the  little  bundle  in  swaddling  clothes  car- 
ried to  the  concierge  of  the  palace,  in  order  that  he  might 
restore  it  to  its  parents. 


346  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

I  will  now  give  another  instance  of  the  kindness  of 
heart  of  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  of  which  I  had  the 
honor  to  be  a  witness,  as  well  as  of  the  preceding. 

A  few  days  before  the  coronation,  a  little  girl  four  and 
a  half  years  old  had  been  rescued  from  the  Seine ;  and  a 
charitable  lady,  Madame  Fabien  Fillet,  was  much  interested 
in  providing  a  home  for  the  poor  orphan.  At  the  time  of 
the  coronation,  the  Empress,  who  had  been  informed  of  this 
occurrence,  asked  to  see  this  child,  and  having  regarded  it 
a  few  moments  with  much  emotion,  offered  her  protection 
most  gracefully  and  sincerely  to  Madame  Fillet  and  her 
husband,  and  announced  to  them  that  she  would  take  upon 
herself  the  care  of  the  little  girl's  future ;  then,  with  her 
usual  delicacy  and  in  the  affectionate  tone  which  was  so  nat- 
ural to  her,  the  Empress  added,  "  Your  good  action  has 
given  you  too  many  claims  over  the  poor  little  girl  for  me 
to  deprive  you  of  the  pleasure  of  completing  your  work,  I 
therefore  beg  your  permission  to  furnish  the  expenses  of 
her  education.  You  have  the  privilege  of  putting  her  in 
boarding-school,  and  watching  over  her ;  and  I  wish  to  take 
only  a  secondary  position,  as  her  benefactress."  It  was  the 
most  touching  sight  imaginable  to  see  her  Majesty,  while 
uttering  these  delicate  and  generous  words,  pass  her  hands 
through  the  hair  of  the  poor  little  girl,  as  she  had  just  called 
her,  and  kiss  her  brow  with  the  tenderness  of  a  mother. 
M.  and  Madame  Fillet  withdrew,  for  they  could  no  longer 
bear  this  touching  scene. 


GENERAL  JUNOT.  347 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

General  Junot  appointed  ambassador  to  Portugal.  — Anecdote  about  tbis 
general.  —  Powder  and  the  titus.  —  The  complainant  still  rebellious,  and 
Junot  performs  the  office  of  barber. — Junot's  fits  of  rage.  —  Junot, 
while  Governor  of  Paris,  beats  the  employees  of  a  playhouse.  —  The 
Emperor  reprimands  him  in  terms  which  bear  a  sad  prediction.  — 
Junot's  skill  with  the  pistol. — The  pipe  cut  in  two,  etc. — The  beau- 
tiful Louise,  mistress  of  Junot. — The  femme  de  chambre  of  Madame 
Bonaparte  rivals  her  mistress.  —  Indulgence  of  Josephine.  —  Brutality 
of  an  English  jockey.  —  Napoleon,  King  of  Italy.  —  Second  journey 
of  Constant  to  Lombardy.  —  Contrast  between  this  journey  and  the 
first.  —  Baptism  of  Prince  Louis's  second  son.  —  The  three  sons  of  Hor- 
tense  godsons  of  the  Emperor. —  The  Empress  always  wishes  to  fol- 
low the  Emperor  in  his  travels. — Anecdote  on  this  subject.  —  The  Em- 
peror obliged,  against  his  will,  to  take  the  Empress  along. — Josephine 
half-dressed  in  the  Emperor's  carriage.  —  Sojourn  of  the  Emperor  at  Bri- 
enne. — Mesdames  de  Brienne  and  de  Lomenie.  —  Souvenirs  of  the  Em- 
peror's childhood.— The  dinner,  whist,  etc.  —The field  of  la  Rothiere.— 
The  Emperor  takes  pleasure  in  giving  the  name  of  each  locality. — The 
peasant  of  Brienne  and  the  Emperor. — Mother  Marguerite. — The  Em- 
peror makes  her  a  visit,  talks  with  her,  and  invites  her  to  breakfast.  — 
Scene  of  good-will  and  happiness.  —  New  anecdote  about  the  Duke 
d'Abrantes.  —  Junot  and  his  old  schoolmaster.  —  The  Emperor  and  his 
old  teacher. — Gifts  of  the  Emperor  to  Brienne.  —  He  passes  through 
Troyes.  —  Distress  of  the  widow  of  a  general  officer  of  the  old  rdgime.  — 
The  Emperor  grants  this  lady  a  pension  of  a  thousand  crowns.  —  Stay  at 
Lyons. — Delicate,  but  not  disinterested,  attentions  of  Cardinal  Fesch. — 
Generosity  of  his  Eminence  well  repaid. — Passage  of  Mont  Cenis. — 
Sedan  chairs  for  their  Majesties.  —  Halt  at  the  Hospice.  —  Donations 
made  by  the  Emperor  to  the  monks.  —  Stay  at  Stupinigi. — The  Pope's 
visit.  —  Presents  of  their  Majesties  to  the  Pope  and  the  Roman  Cardinals. 
—  Arrival  at  Alexandria. — Review  on  the  plain  of  Marengo.  —  The  coat 
and  hat  worn  at  Marengo. — The  costume  of  the  Emperor  at  Marengo 
lent  to  David  for  one  of  his  pictures.  —  Description  of  the  review.  — 
The  name  of  General  Desaix.  —  Sad  and  glorious  memories.  — Interview 
of  the  Emperor  with  Prince  Je'rome. —  Cause  of  the  Emperor's  displeas- 
ure.—  Jerome  and  Miss  Patterson.  —  Prince  Jerome  goes  to  deliver  the 
Genoese  prisoners  at  Algiers.  — Affection  of  Napoleon  for  Jerome. 


348  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

THE  appointment  of  General  Junot  as  ambassador  to 
Portugal  recalled  to  my  recollection  a  laughable  anecdote 
concerning  him,  which  greatly  amused  the  Emperor.  While 
in  camp  at  Boulogne,  the  Emperor  had  published  in  the 
order  of  the  day  that  every  soldier  should  discard  powder, 
and  arrange  his  hair  a  la  Titus,  on  which  there  was  much 
murmuring ;  but  at  last  all  submitted  to  the  order  of  the 
chief,  except  one  old  grenadier  belonging  to  the  corps  com- 
manded by  General  Junot.  Not  being  able  to  decide  on 
the  sacrifice  of  his  oily  tresses  or  his  queue,  the  old  soldier 
swore  he  would  submit  to  it  only  in  case  his  general  would 
himself  cut  off  the  first  lock ;  and  all  the  officers  interested 
in  this  affair  having  succeeded  in  getting  no  other  reply, 
at  last  reported  him  to  the  general.  "That  can  be  man- 
aged; bring  the  idiot  to  me!  "  replied  he.  The  grenadier 
was  called,  and  General  Junot  himself  applied  the  scissors 
to  an  oiled  and  powdered  lock ;  after  which  he  gave  twenty 
francs  to  the  grumbler,  who  went  away  satisfied  to  let  the 
barber  of  the  regiment  finish  the  operation. 

The  Emperor  having  been  informed  of  this  adventure, 
laughed  most  heartily,  and  praised  Junot,  complimenting 
him  on  his  condescension. 

I  could  cite  a  thousand  similar  instances  of  the  kindness 
of  heart  joined  to  military  brusqueness  which  characterized 
General  Junot,  and  could  also  cite  those  of  another  kind, 
which  would  do  less  honor  to  his  name.  The  slight  con- 
trol he  had  over  himself  often  threw  him  into  transports 
of  rage,  the  most  ordinary  effect  of  which  was  forgetful- 
ness  of  his  rank  and  the  dignity  of  demeanor  which  it 
demanded  of  him.  Every  one  has  heard  the  adventure  of 
the  gambling-house,  when  he  tore  up  the  cards,  upset  the 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  JUNOT.        349 

furniture,  and  beat  both  bankers  and  croupiers,  to  indemnify 
himself  for  the  loss  of  his  money ;  and  the  worst  of  it  was, 
he  was  at  that  very  time  Governor  of  Paris.  The  Em- 
peror, informed  of  this  scandal,  sent  for  him,  and  de- 
manded of  him  (he  was  still  very  angry),  if  he  had  sworn 
to  live  and  die  mad.  This  might  have  been,  from  the 
sequel,  taken  as  a  prediction ;  for  the  unfortunate  general 
died  at  last  in  a  fit  of  mental  aberration.  He  replied  in 
such  improper  terms  to  the  reprimands  of  the  Emperor  that 
he  was  sent,  perhaps  in  order  that  he  might  have  time  to 
calm  himself,  to  the  army  of  England.  It  was  not  only  in 
gaming-houses,  however,  that  the  governor  thus  compro- 
mised his  dignity ;  for  I  have  heard  other  stories  about  him 
of  a  still  more  shocking  character,  which  I  will  not  allow 
myself  to  repeat.  The  truth  is,  General  Junot  prided  him- 
self much  less  on  respecting  the  proprieties  than  on  being 
one  of  the  best  pistol-shots  in  the  army.  While  riding  in 
the  country,  he  would  often  put  his  horse  into  a  gallop, 
and  with  a  pistol  in  each  hand,  never  fail  to  cut  off,  in 
passing,  the  heads  of  the  ducks  or  chickens  which  he  took 
as  his  target.  He  could  cut  off  a  small  twig  from  a  tree 
at  twenty-five  paces ;  and  I  have  even  heard  it  said  (I  am 
far  from  guaranteeing  the  truth  of  this)  that  on  one  oc- 
casion, with  the  consent  of  the  party  whose  imprudence 
thus  put  his  life  in  peril,  he  cut  half  in  two  the  stem  of  a 
clay  pipe,  hardly  three  inches  long,  which  a  soldier  held 
between  his  teeth. 

In  the  first  journey  which  Madame  Bonaparte  made  into 
Italy  to  rejoin  her  husband,  she  remained  some  time  at 
Milan.  She  had  at  that  time  in  her  service  a  femme  de 
chambre  named  Louise,  a  large  and  very  beautiful  woman, 


350  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

and  who  showed  favors,  well  remunerated  however,  to  the 
brave  Junot.  As  soon  as  her  duties  were  ended,  Louise, 
far  more  gorgeously  attired  than  Madame  Bonaparte,  en- 
tered an  elegant  carriage,  and  rode  through  the  city  and 
the  principal  promenades,  often  eclipsing  the  wife  of  the 
General-in-chief.  On  his  return  to  Paris,  the  latter  obliged 
his  wife  to  dismiss  the  beautiful  Louise,  who,  abandoned 
by  her  inconstant  lover,  fell  into  great  destitution ;  and  I 
often  saw  her  afterwards  at  the  residence  of  Josephine 
begging  aid,  which  was  always  most  kindly  granted. 
This  young  woman,  who  had  dared  to  rival  Madame 
Bonaparte  in  elegance,  ended  by  marrying,  I  think,  an 
English  jockey,  led  a  most  unhappy  life,  and  died  in  a 
miserable  condition. 

The  First  Consul  of  the  French  Republic,  now  become 
Emperor  of  the  French,  could  no  longer  be  satisfied  with 
the  title  of  President  of  Italy.  Therefore,  when  new  depu- 
ties of  the  Cisalpine  Republic  passed  over  the  mountains, 
and  gathered  at  Paris  for  consultation,  they  conferred  on 
his  Majesty  the  title  of  King  of  Italy,  which  he  accepted, 
and  a  few  days  after  his  acceptance  he  set  out  for  Milan, 
where  he  was  to  be  crowned. 

I  returned  with  the  greatest  pleasure  to  that  beautiful 
country,  of  which,  notwithstanding  the  fatigues  and  dangers 
of  war,  I  retained  the  most  delightful  recollections.  How 
different  the  circumstances  now !  As  a  sovereign  the  Em- 
peror was  now  about  to  cross  the  Alps,  Piedmont,  and  Lom- 
bardy,  each  gorge,  each  stream,  each  defile  of  which  we  had 
been  obliged  in  a  former  visit  to  carry  by  force  of  arms.  In 
1800  the  escort  of  the  First  Consul  was  a  warlike  army; 
in  1805  it  was  a  peaceful  procession  of  chamberlains,  pages, 
maids  of  honor,  and  officers  of  the  palace. 


SECOND   VISIT  TO  ITALY.  351 

Before  his  departure  the  Emperor  held  in  his  arms  at 
the  baptismal  font,  in  company  with  Madame  his  mother, 
Prince  Napoleon  Louis,  second  son  of  his  brother  Prince 
Louis.  The  three  sons  of  Queen  Hortense  had,  if  I  am 
not  much  mistaken,  the  Emperor  as  godfather;  but  he 
loved  most  tenderly  the  eldest  of  the  three,  Prince  Napo- 
leon Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years,  Prince 
Royal  of  Holland.1  I  shall  speak  afterwards  of  this  lovely 
child,  whose  death  threw  his  father  and  mother  into  the 
most  overwhelming  grief,  was  the  cause  of  great  sorrow  to 
the  Emperor,  and  may  be  considered  as  the  source  of  the 
gravest  events. 

After  the  baptismal  fetes  we  set  out  for  Italy,  accom- 
panied by  the  Empress  Josephine.  Whenever  it  was  con- 
venient the  Emperor  liked  to  take  her  with  him ;  but  she 
always  desired  to  accompany  her  husband,  whether  or  not 
this  Avas  the  case. 

The  Emperor  usually  kept  his  journey  a  profound  secret 
up  to  the  moment  of  his  departure,  and  ordered  at  midnight 
horses  for  his  departure  to  Mayence  or  Milan,  exactly  as  if 
a  hunt  at  Saint-Cloud  or  Rambouillet  was  in  question. 

On  one  of  his  journeys  (I  do  not  remember  which),  his 
Majesty  had  decided  not  to  take  the  Empress  Josephine. 
The  Emperor  was  less  disturbed  by  this  company  of  ladies 
and  women  who  formed  her  Majesty's  suite,  than  he  was  by 
the  annoyance  of  the  bandboxes  and  bundles  with  which 
they  were  usually  encumbered,  and  wished  on  this  occasion 
to  travel  rapidly,  and  without  ostentation,  and  spare  the 
towns  on  his  route  an  enormous  increase  of  expense. 

He  therefore  ordered  everything  to  be  in  readiness  for 

1  The  third  sou  lived  to  become  Napoleon  III.  —  TRANS. 


352  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  departure  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at  which  hour 
the  Empress  was  generally  asleep ;  but,  in  spite  of  all  pre- 
cautions, some  slight  noise  warned  the  Empress  of  what 
was  taking  place.  The  Emperor  had  promised  her  that  she 
should  accompany  him  on  his  first  journey ;  but  he  had  de- 
ceived her,  nevertheless,  and  was  about  to  set  out  without 
her !  She  instantly  called  her  women  ;  but  vexed  at  their 
slowness,  her  Majesty  sprang  out  of  bed,  threw  on  the  first 
clothing  she  found  at  hand,  and  ran  out  of  her  room  in 
slippers  and  without  stockings.  Weeping  like  a  little  child 
that  is  being  taken  back  to  boarding-school,  she  crossed  the 
apartments,  flew  down  the  staircase,  and  threw  herself  into 
the  arms  of  the  Emperor,  as  he  was  entering  his  carriage, 
barely  in  time,  however,  for  a  moment  later  he  set  out.  As 
almost  always  happened  at  the  sight  of  his  wife's  tears, 
the  Emperor's  heart  was  softened ;  and  she,  seeing  this,  had 
already  entered  the  carriage,  and  was  cowering  down  in  the 
foot,  for  the  Empress  was  scantily  clad.  The  Emperor  cov- 
ered her  with  his  cloak,  and  before  starting  gave  the  order 
in  person  that,  with  the  first  relay,  his  wife  should  receive 
all  she  needed. 

The  Emperor,  leaving  his  wife  at  Fontainebleau,  re- 
paired to  Brienne,  where  he  arrived  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  and  found  Mesdames  de  Brienne  and  Lomenie, 
with  several  ladies  of  the  city,  awaiting  him  at  the  foot  of 
the  staircase  to  the  chateau.  He  entered  the  saloon,  and 
received  most  graciously  all  persons  who  were  presented  to 
him,  and  then  passed  into  the  garden,  conversing  familiarly 
with  Mesdames  Brienne  and  Lomenie,  and  recalling  with 
surprising  accuracy  the  smallest  particulars  of  the  stay 
which  he  made  during  his  childhood  at  the  military  school 
of  Brienne. 


THE  EMPEROR    VISITS  BRIENNE,  353 

His  Majesty  invited  to  his  table  at  dinner  his  hostesses 
and  a  few  of  their  friends,  and  afterwards  made  a  party  at 
a  game  of  whist  with  Mesdames  de  Brienne,  de  Vandeuvre, 
and  de  Nolivres.  During  this  game,  as  also  at  the  table, 
his  conversation  was  animated  and  most  interesting,  and 
he  displayed  such  liveliness  and  affability  that  every  one 
was  delighted. 

His  Majesty  passed  the  night  at  the  chateau  of  Brienne, 
and  rose  early  to  visit  the  field  of  la  Rothiere,  one  of  his 
favorite  walks  in  former  days.  He  revisited  with  the 
greatest  pleasyre  those  spots  where  his  early  youth  had 
been  passed,  and  pointed  them  out  with  a  kind  of  pride,  all 
his  movements,  all  his  reflections,  seeming  to  say,  "See 
whence  I  set  out,  and  where  I  have  arrived." 

His  Majesty  walked  in  advance  of  the  persons  who 
accompanied  him,  and  took  much  pleasure  in  being  first  to 
call  by  their  names  the  various  localities  he  passed.  A 
peasant,  seeing  him  thus  some  distance  from  his  suite,  cried 
out  to  him  familiarly,  "  Oh,  citizen,  is  the  Emperor  going  to 
pass  soon  ?  " — "  Yes,"  replied  the  Emperor,  "  have  patience." 

The  Emperor  had  inquired  the  evening  before,  of  Ma- 
dame Brienne,  news  of  Mother  Marguerite.  Thus  was 
styled  a  good  woman  who  dwelt  in  a  cottage,  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest,  and  on  whom  the  pupils  of  the  military 
academy  were  accustomed  to  make  frequent  visits.  He  had 
not  forgotten  her  name,  and  learning,  with  as  much  joy 
as  surprise,  that  she  still  lived,  the  Emperor,  extended  his 
morning  ride,  and  galloping  up  to  the  door  of  the  cottage, 
alighted  from  his  horse,  and  entered  the  home  of  the  good 
old  peasant.  Her  sight  was  impaired  by  age ;  and  besides, 
the  Emperor  had  changed  so  much  since  she  had  seen  him 


354  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

that  it  would  have  been  difficult  even  for  the  best  eyes 
to  recognize  him.  "Good-day,  Mother  Marguerite,"  said 
his  Majesty,  saluting  the  old  woman ;  "so  you  are  not  curi- 
ous to  see  the  Emperor  ?  "  -  "  Yes,  indeed,  my  good  sir ;  I 
am  very  curious  to  see  him ;  so  much  so,  that  here  is  a  little 
basket  of  fresh  eggs  that  I  am  going  to  carry  to  Madame ; 
and  I  shall  then  remain  at  the  chateau,  and  endeavor  to 
see  the  Emperor.  But  the  trouble  is,  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  see  him  so  well  to-day  as  formerly,  when  he  came  with 
his  comrades  to  drink  milk  at  Mother  Marguerite's.  He 
was  not  Emperor  then ;  but  that  was  nothing,  he  made  the 
others  step  around !  Indeed,  you  should  have  seen  him ! 
The  milk,  the  eggs,  the  brown  bread,  the  broken  dishes  — 
though  he  took  care  to  have  me  paid  for  everything,  and  be- 
gan by  paying  his  own  bill."  -  "  What !  Mother  Margue- 
rite," replied  his  Majesty,  smiling,  "  you  have  not  forgotten 
Bonaparte ! " —  " Forgotten !  my  good  sir;  you  think  that  any 
one  would  forget  such  a  young  man  as  he,  who  was  wise, 
serious,  and  sometimes  even  sad,  but  always  good  to  poor 
people  ?  I  am  only  a  poor  peasant  woman,  but  I  could 
have  predicted  that  this  young  man  would  make  his  way. 
He  has  not  done  it  very  badly,  has  he  ?  Ah,  no,  indeed  !" 
During  this  short  dialogue,  the  Emperor  had  at  first 
turned  his  back  to  the  door,  and  consequently  to  the  light, 
which  entered  the  cottage  only  by  that  means.  But,  by 
degrees,  the  Emperor  approached  the  good  woman;  and 
when  he  was  quite  near  her,  with  the  light  shining  full  on 
his  face  from  the  door,  he  began  to  rub  his  hands  and  say, 
trying  to  recall  the  tone  and  manner  of  the  days  of  his 
early  youth,  when  he  came  to  the  peasant's  house,  "  Come, 
Mother  Marguerite,  some  milk  and  fresh  eggs ;  we  are 


NAPOLEON  AND  MOTHER  MARGUERITE.  355 

famishing."  The  good  old  woman  seemed  trying  to  revive 
her  memories,  and  began  to  observe  the  Emperor  with  the 
closest  attention.  "  Oh,  yes,  Mother,  you  were  so  sure 
a  while  ago  of  knowing  Bonaparte  again.  Are  we  not  old 
acquaintances,  we  two  ?  "  The  peasant,  while  the  Emperor 
was  addressing  these  last  words  to  her,  had  fallen  at  his 
feet ;  but  he  raised  her  with  the  most  touching  kindness, 
and  said  to  her,  "  The  truth  is,  Mother  Marguerite,  I  have 
still  a  schoolboy's  appetite.  Have  you  nothing  to  give 
me  ?  "  The  good  woman,  almost  beside  herself  with  happi- 
ness, served  his  Majesty  with  eggs  and  milk ;  and  when  this 
simple  repast  was  ended,  his  Majesty  gave  his  aged  hostess 
a  purse  full  of  gold,  saying  to  her,  "  You  know,  Mother 
Marguerite,  .that  I  believe  in  paying  my  bills.  Adieu,  I 
shall  not  forget  you."  And  while  the  Emperor  remounted 
his  horse,  the  good  old  woman,  standing  on  the  threshold  of 
her  door,  promised  him,  with  tears  of  joy,  to  pray  to  the 
good  God  for  him. 

One  morning,  when  he  awoke,  his  Majesty  was  speaking 
of  the  possibility  of  finding  some  of  his  old  acquaintances  ; 
and  an  anecdote  concerning  General  Junot  was  related 
to  him,  which  amused  him  greatly.  The  General  finding 
himself,  on  his  return  from  Egypt,  at  Montbard,  where 
he  had  passed  several  years  of  his  childhood,  had  sought 
with  the  greatest  care  for  his  companions  in  school  and 
mischief,  and  had  found  several,  with  whom  he  had  talked 
gayly  and  freely  of  his  early  frolics  and  his  schoolboy 
excursions.  As  they  went  together  to  revisit  the  different 
localities,  each  of  which  awakened  in  them  some  memory 
of  their  youth,  the  general  saw  an  old  man  majestically 
promenading  on  the  public  square  with  a  large  cane  in 


356  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  hand.  He  immediately  ran  up  to  him,  threw  his  arms 
around  him,  and  embraced  him  many  times,  almost  suffocat- 
ing him.  The  promenader  disengaged  himself  with  great 
difficulty  from  his  warm  embraces,  regarded  General  Junot 
with  an  amazed  air,  and  remarked  that  he  was  ignorant 
to  what  he  could  attribute  such  excessive  tenderness  from  a 
soldier  wearing  the  uniform  of  a  superior  officer,  and  all  the 
indications  of  high  rank.  "  What,"  cried  he,  "  do  you  not 
recognize  me  ?  "  —  "  Citizen  General,  I  pray  you  to  excuse 
me,  but  I  have  no  idea  "  -  "  Ah,  morbleu,  my  dear  master, 
have  you  forgotten  the  most  idle,  the  most  lawless,  the  most 
incorrigible  of  your  scholars  ?  "  —  "A  thousand  pardons, 
you  are  Monsieur  Junot."  -  "  Himself !  "  replied  Junot, 
renewing  his  embraces,  and  laughing  with  his  friends  at 
the  singular  characteristics  by  which  he  had  caused  himself 
to  be  recognized.  As  for  his  Majesty  the  Emperor,  if  any 
of  his  old  masters  had  failed  to  recognize  him,  it  could  not 
be  by  reminiscences  of  this  kind  that  he  could  have  recalled 
himself  to  them ;  for  every  one  knows  that  he  was  distin- 
guished at  the  military  school  for  his  application  to  work, 
and  the  regularity  and  sobriety  of  his  life. 

A  meeting  of  the  same  nature,  saving  the  difference 
in  recollections,  awaited  the  Emperor  at  Brienne.  While 
he  was  visiting  the  old  military  school,  now  falling  to  ruin, 
and  pointing  out  to  the  persons  who  surrounded  him  the 
situation  of  the  study  halls,  dormitories,  refectories,  etc., 
an  ecclesiastic  who  had  been  tutor  of  one  of  the  classes 
in  the  school  was  presented  to  him.  The  Emperor  recog- 
nized him  immediately ;  and,  uttering  an  exclamation  of 
surprise,  his  Majesty  conversed  more  than  twenty  min- 
utes with  this  gentleman,  leaving  him  full  of  gratitude. 


LIBERALITY  OF  THE  EMPEEOE.  357 

The  Emperor,  before  leaving  Brienne  to  return  to  Fon- 
tainebleau,  required  the  mayor  to  give  him  a  written 
account  of  the  most  pressing  needs  of  the  commune,  and 
left  on  his  departure  a  considerable  sum  for  the  poor  and 
the  hospitals. 

Passing  through  Troyes,  the  Emperor  left  there,  as 
everywhere  else,  souvenirs  of  his  generosity.  The  widow 
of  a  general  officer,  living  in  retirement  at  Joinville  (I 
regret  that  I  have  forgotten  the  name  of  this  venerable 
lady,  who  was  more  than  an  octogenarian),  came  to  Troyes, 
notwithstanding  her  great  age,  to  ask  aid  from  his  Majesty. 
Her  husband  having  served  only  before  the  Revolution, 
the  pension  which  she  had  enjoyed  had  been  taken 
from  her  under  the  Republic,  and  she  was  in  the  greatest 
destitution.  The  brother  of  General  Vouittemont,  mayor 
of  a  commune  in  the  suburbs  of  Troyes,  was  kind  enough 
to  consult  me  as  to  what  should  be  done  in  order  to  present 
this  lady  to  the  Emperor;  and  I  advised  him  to  have  her 
name  placed  on  the  list  of  his  Majesty's  private  audiences. 
I  myself  took  the  liberty  of  speaking  of  Madame  de  -  -  to 
the  Emperor;  and  the  audience  was  granted,  though  I  do 
not  pretend  to  attribute  the  merit  of  it  to  myself,  for  in 
traveling  the  Emperor  was  always  very  accessible. 

When  the  good  lady  came  to  attend  the  audience  with 
M.  de  Vouittemont,  to  whom  his  municipal  scarf  gave  the 
right  of  entrance,  I  happened  to  meet  them,  and  she  stopped 
to  thank  me  for  the  little  service  which  she  insisted  I  had 
rendered  her,  and  mentioned  that  she  had  been  obliged  to 
pawn  the  six  silver  plates  which  alone  remained  to  her,  in 
order  to  pay  the  expenses  of  her  journey ;  that,  having  ar- 
rived at  Troyes  in  a  poor  farm  wagon,  covered  with  a  cloth 


358  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

thrown  over  a  hoop,  and  which  had  shaken  her  terribly,  she 
could  find  no  place  in  the  inns,  all  of  which  were  filled  on 
account  of  the  arrival  of  their  Majesties;  and  she  would 
have  been  obliged  to  sleep  in  her  wagon  had  it  not  been  for 
the  kind  consideration  of  M.  de  Vouittemont,  who  had  given 
up  his  room  to  her,  and  offered  his  services.  In  spite  of  her 
more  than  eighty  years,  and  her  distress,  this  respectable 
lady  related  her  story  with  an  air  of  gentle  gayety,  and  at 
the  close  threw  a  grateful  glance  at  her  guide,  on  whose 
arm  she  was  leaning. 

At  that  moment  the  usher  came  to  announce  that  her 
turn  had  come,  and  she  entered  the  saloon  of  audience.  M. 
de  Vouittemont  awaited  her  return  while  conversing  with 
me ;  and  on  her  return  she  related  to  us,  scarcely  able  to 
control  her  emotion,  that  the  Emperor  had  in  the  kindest 
manner  received  the  memorial  she  presented  to  him,  had 
read  it  attentively,  and  passed  it  to  a  minister  who  was 
near  him,  with  the  order  to  do  her  justice  this  very  day. 

The  next  day  she  received  the  warrant  for  a  pension 
of  three  thousand  francs,  the  first  year's  pay  being  handed 
her  at  once. 

At  Lyons,  of  which  Cardinal  Fesch l  was  archbishop,  the 
Emperor  lodged  in  the  archiepiscopal  palace. 

During  the  stay  of  their  Majesties  the  cardinal  exerted 
himself  to  the  utmost  to  gratify  every  wish  of  his  nephew ; 
and  in  his  eagerness  to  please,  monseigneur  applied  to  me 
many  times  each  day  to  be  assured  that  nothing  was  lack- 
ing; so  everything  passed  off  admirably.  The  zeal  of  the 
cardinal  was  remarked  by  all  the  household;  but  for  my 

1  Joseph  Fesch,  born  in  Corsica,  1763,  was  half-brother  to  Napoleon's 
mother.  Archbishop  of  Lyons  1801,  cardinal  1803,  died  1839.  —  TRANS. 


CARDINAL  FESCH.  359 

part  I  thought  I  perceived  that  the  zeal  displayed  by  mon- 
seigneur  in  the  reception  of  their  Majesties  took  on  an 
added  strength  whenever  there  was  a  question  of  all  the 
expenses  incurred  by  this  visit,  which  were  considerable, 
being  paid  by  them.  His  eminence,  I  thought,  drew  very 
fine  interest  on  his  investment,  and  his  generous  hospitality 
was  handsomely  compensated  by  the  liberality  of  his  guests. 

The  passage  of  Mont  Cenis  was  by  no  means  so  difficult 
as  had  been  that  of  Mont  St.  Bernard ;  although  the  road, 
which  has  since  been  made  by  the  Emperor's  orders,  was 
not  then  commenced.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain  they 
were  obliged  to  take  the  carriage  to  pieces,  and  transport 
it  on  the  backs  of  mules ;  and  their  Majesties  crossed  the 
mountain  partly  on  foot,  partly  in  very  handsome  sedan 
chairs  which  had  been  made  at  Turin, — that  of  the  Em- 
peror lined  with  crimson  satin,  and  ornamented  with  gold 
lace  and  fringes,  and  that  of  the  Empress  in  blue  satin, 
with  silver  lace  and  fringes.  The  snow  had  been  carefully 
swept  off  and  removed.  On  their  arrival  at  the  convent 
they  were  most  warmly  received  by  the  good  monks;  and 
the  Emperor,  who  had  a  singular  affection  for  them,  held 
a  long  conversation  with  them,  and  did  not  depart  without 
leaving  rich  and  numerous  tokens  of  his  liberality.  As 
soon  as  he  arrived  at  Turin  he  gave  orders  for  the  im- 
provement of  their  hospice,  which  he  continued  to  support 
till  his  fall. 

Their  Majesties  remained  several  days  at  Turin,  where 
they  occupied  the  former  palace  of  the  kings  of  Sardinia, 
constituted  the  imperial  residence  by  a  decree  of  the  Em- 
peror made  during  our  stay,  as  was  also  the  castle  of  Stu- 
pinigi,  situated  a  short  distance  from  the  town. 


360  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  Pope  rejoined  their  Majesties  at  Stupinigi;  the 
Holy  Father  had  left  Paris  almost  at  the  same  time  as  our- 
selves, and  before  his  departure  had  received  from  the 
Emperor  magnificent  presents.  Among  these  was  a  golden 
altar  with  chandeliers,  and  holy  vessels  of  the  richest  work- 
manship, a  superb  tiara,  Gobelin  tapestries,  and  carpets  from 
the  Savonnerie,  with  a  statue  of  the  Emperor  in  Sevres 
porcelain.  The  Empress  also  made  to  his  Holiness  a  pres- 
ent of  a  vase  of  the  same  manufacture,  adorned  with  paint- 
ings by  the  best  artists.  This  masterpiece  was  at  least  four 
feet  in  height,  and  two  feet  and  a  half  in  diameter  at  the 
mouth,  and  was  made  expressly  to  be  offered  to  the  Holy 
Father,  the  painting  representing,  if  my  memory  is  correct, 
the  ceremony  of  the  coronation. 

Each  of  the  cardinals  in  the  suite  of  the  Pope  had  re- 
ceived a  box  of  beautiful  workmanship,  with  the  portrait  of 
the  Emperor  set  in  diamonds ;  and  all  the  persons  attached 
to  the  service  of  Pius  VII.  had  presents  more  or  less  con- 
siderable, all  these  various  articles  being  brought  by  the 
furnishers  to  the  apartments  of  his  Majesty,  where  I  took 
a  list  of  them,  by  order  of  his  Majesty,  as  they  arrived. 

The  Holy  Father  also  made  in  return  very  handsome 
presents  to  the  officers  of  the  Emperor's  household  whose 
duties  had  brought  them  near  his  person  during  his  stay 
at  Paris. 

From  Stupinigi  we  went  to  Alexandria.  The  Emperor, 
the  next  day  after  his  arrival,  rose  early,  visited  the  fortifi- 
cations of  the  town,  reviewed  all  the  positions  of  the  battle- 
field of  Marengo,  and  returned  only  at  seven  o'clock,  and 
after  having  broken  down  five  horses.  A  few  days  after 
he  wished  the  Empress  to  see  this  famous  plain,  and  by  his 


REVIEW  AT  tiARENGO.  361 

orders  an  army  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  thousand  men  was 
assembled.  The  morning  of  the  day  fixed  for  the  review 
of  these  troops,  the  Emperor  left  his  apartment  dressed  in 
a  blue  coat  with  long  skirts,  much  worn,  and  even  with 
holes  in  some  places.  These  holes  were  the  work  of  moths 
and  not  of  balls,  as  has  been  said  in  certain  memoirs.  On 
his  head  his  Majesty  wore  an  old  hat  edged  with  gold  lace, 
tarnished  and  frayed,  and  at  his  side  a  cavalry  saber,  such 
as  the  generals  of  the  Republic  wore;  this  was  the  coat, 
hat,  and  sword  that  he  had  worn  on  the  day  of  the  battle  of 
Marengo.  I  afterwards  lent  these  articles  to  Monsieur 
David,  first  painter  to  his  Majesty,  for  his  picture  of  the 
passage  of  Mont  St.  Bernard.  A  vast  amphitheater  had 
been  raised  on  this  plain  for  the  Empress  and  the  suite  of 
their  Majesties ;  the  day  was  perfect,  as  is  each  day  of 
the  month  of  May  in  Italy.  After  riding  along  the  ranks, 
the  Emperor  took  his  seat  by  the  side  of  the  Empress,  and 
made  to  the  troops  a  distribution  of  the  cross  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor,  after  which  he  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  monu- 
ment, which  he  had  directed  to  be  raised  on  the  plain  to  the 
memory  of  the  soldiers  who  had  fallen  on  the  battlefield. 
When  his  Majesty,  in  the  short  address  which  he  made  to 
the  army  on  this  occasion,  pronounced  in  a  strong  voice,  vi- 
brating with  emotion,  the  name  of  Desaix,  who  here  died  glo- 
riously for  his  country,  a  murmur  of  grief  ran  through  the 
ranks  of  the  soldiers.  As  for  me,  I  was  moved  to  tears ; 
and  as  my  eyes  fell  on  this  army,  on  its  banners,  on  the 
costume  of  the  Emperor,  I  was  obliged  to  turn  from  time 
to  time  towards  the  throne  of  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  to 
realize  that  this  was  not  the  14th  of  June  in  the  year  1800. 
I  think  it  was  during  this  stay  at  Alexandria,  that 


362  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON'. 

Prince  Jerome  Bonaparte  had  an  interview  with  the  Em- 
peror, in  which  the  latter  seriously  and  earnestly  remon- 
strated with  his  brother,  and  Prince  Jerome  left  the  cabinet 
visibly  agitated.  This  displeasure  of  the  Emperor  arose 
from  the  marriage  contracted  by  his  brother,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen,  with  the  daughter  of  an  American  merchant. 

His  Majesty  had  this  union  annulled  on  the  plea  of 
minority,  and  made  a  decree  forbidding  the  officers  of  the 
civil  state  to  receive,  on  their  registers,  the  record  of  the 
certificate  of  the  celebration  of  the  marriage  of  Monsieur 
Jerome  with  Mademoiselle  Patterson.  For  some  time  the 
Emperor  treated  him  with  great  coolness,  and  kept  him 
at  a  distance ;  but  a  few  days  after  the  interview  at  Alex- 
andria, he  sent  him  to  Algiers  to  claim  as  subjects  of  the 
Empire  two  hundred  Genoese  held  as  slaves.  The  young 
prince  acquitted  himself  handsomely  of  this  mission  of  hu- 
manity, and  returned  in  the  month  of  August  to  the  port 
of  Genoa,  with  the  captives  whom  he  had  just  released. 
The  Emperor  was  well  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which 
his  brother  had  carried  out  his  instructions,  and  said  on 
this  occasion,  that  "  Prince  Jerome  was  very  young  and  very 
thoughtless,  that  he  needed  more  weight  in  his  head,  but 
that,  nevertheless,  he  hoped  to  make  something  of  him." 

This  brother  of  his  Majesty  was  one  among  the  few 
persons  whom  he  really  loved,  although  he  had  often  given 
him  just  cause  for  anger. 


SOJOURN  AT  MILAN.  363 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

The  Emperor's  stay  at  Milan. — Employment  of  his  time.  —  Prince  Eugene 
viceroy  of  Italy.  —  Breakfast  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress  on  the  Island 
of  Olona.  —  Visit  to  the  cottage  of  a  poor  woman.  —  Conversation  of  the 
Emperor. —  Four  happy  people. — Annexation  of  the  Ligurian  Republic 
to  the  French  Empire.  —  Three  new  departments  in  the  kingdom  of 
Italy.  —  Journey  of  the  Emperor  to  Genoa.  —  Senator  Lucien  at  the  resi- 
dence of  his  brother.  —  The  Emperor  wishes  to  make  his  brother  get  a 
divorce.  —  Reply  of  Lucien. — Anger  of  the  Emperor. — Agitation  of 
Lucien.  —  Lucien  sets  out  again  for  Rome.  —  Silence  of  the  Emperor  on 
retiring.  —  The  true  cause  of  the  disagreement  between  the  Emperor  and 
his  brother  Lucien.  — Details  of  the  first  quarrels  of  the  two  brothers. — 
Bold  reply  of  Lucien.  —  The  Emperor  breaks  his  watch  under  his  feet.  — 
Conduct  of  Lucien  while  Minister  of  the  Interior.  —  Wheat  passes  the 
Straits  of  Calais. — Twenty  millions  of  profit,  and  the  Spanish  Embassy. 
—  Reception  of  Lucien  at  Madrid.  — Understanding  between  the  Prince 
de  la  Paix  and  Lucien.  —  Thirty  millions  for  two  plenipotentiaries.  — 
Friendship  of  Charles  IV.  for  Lucien.  —  The  King  of  Spain  envies  the 
good  fortune  of  his  first  groom. — Love  of  Lucien  for  a  princess. — The 
portrait,  and  the  hair  chain. — The  hat-buckle  of  Lucien's  second  wife. — 
Details  concerning  the  first  marriage  of  Lucien,  related  by  a  person  in 
the  same  house.  —  Spies. — The  mayor  of  the  tenth  arrondissement,  and 
the  register  of  the  civil  status.  —  Marriage  prevented.  — A  hundred  post- 
horses  engaged,  and  departure  for  Plessis-Chamant.  —  The  assistant 
cur£. — The  cur£  conducted  from  one  police  band  to  another. — Arrival 
of  the  curf  at  the  Tuileries.  —  The  cur€  in  the  First  Consul's  cabinet. — 
More  frightened  than  hurt.  —  Conversation  between  the  agent  of  M. 
Lucien  and  his  secretary  on  the  day  of  the  proclamation  of  the  French 
Empire.  —  Details  of  the  enmity  between  Lucien  and  Madame  Bonaparte. 
—Love  of  Lucien  for  Mademoiselle  Meseray. — Generosity  of  Count  Lucien. 
— Disgust  of  the  count;  he  does  not  wish  to  lose  all.  —  Fatal  present. — 
Foolish  contract.  —  One  word  as  to  our  sojourn  at  Genoa.  —  Fetes  given 
to  the  Emperor. — Departure  from  Turin  for  Fontainebleau.  —  The  old 
woman  of  Tarare.— Anecdote  related  by  Doctor  Corvisart. 

THEIR  Majesties  remained  more  than  a  month  at  Milan, 
and  I  had   ample    leisure    to   acquaint   myself   with    this 


364  EECOLLECTlONS   Of1  NAPOLEON. 

beautiful  capital  of  Lombardy.  This  visit  was  a  con- 
tinual succession  of  fetes  and  gayeties ;  and  it  seemed  that 
the  Emperor  alone  had  time  to  give  to  work,  for  he  shut 
himself  up,  as  was  his  custom,  with  his  ministers,  while 
all  the  persons  of  his  suite  and  of  his  household,  whose 
duties  did  not  detain  them  near  his  Majesty,  were  eagerly 
taking  part' in  the  sports  and  diversions  of  the  Milanese.  I 
will  enter  into  no  details  of  the  coronation,  as  it  was  almost 
a  repetition  of  what  had  taken  place  at  Paris  a  few  months 
before ;  and  as  all  solemnities  of  this  sort  are  alike,  every- 
one is  familiar  with  the  least  details.  Amid  all  these  fete 
days  there  was  one  day  of  real  happiness  to  me :  it  was 
that  on  which  Prince  Eugene,  whose  kindness  to  me  I  have 
never  forgotten,  was  proclaimed  viceroy  of  Italy.  Truly, 
no  one  could  be  more  worthy  than  he  of  a  rank  so  elevated, 
if  to  attain  it  only  nobility,  generosity,  courage,  and  skill 
in  the  art  of  governing,  were  needed ;  for  never  did  prince 
more  sincerely  desire  the  prosperity  of  the  people  con- 
fided to  his  care.  I  have  often  observed  how  truly  happy 
he  was,  and  what  genuine  delight  beamed  from  his  counte- 
nance when  he  had  shed  happiness  around  him. 

The  Emperor  and  Empress  went  one  day  to  breakfast 
in  the  environs  of  Milan,  on  a  little  island  called  Olona. 
While  walking  over  it,  the  Emperor  met  a  poor  woman, 
whose  cottage  was  near  the  place  where  their  Majesties' 
table  had  been  set,  and  he  addressed  to  her  a  number  of 
questions.  "  Monsieur,"  replied  she  (not  knowing  the 
Emperor),  "I  am  very  poor,  and  the  mother  of  three 
children,  whom  I  have  great  difficulty  in  supporting, 
because  my  husband,  who  is  a  day  laborer,  has  not  always 
work." —  "How  much  would  it  take,"  replied  his  Majesty, 


GENEROSITY  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  365 

"to  make  you  perfectly  happy?" — "O  Sire,  it  would 
take  a  great  deal  of  money." — "  But  how  much,  my  good 
woman,  how  much  would  be  necessary?"-  — "Ah,  Monsieur, 
unless  we  had  twenty  louis,1  we  would  not  be  above  want ; 
but  what  chance  is  there  of  our  ever  having  twenty  louis?" 

The  Emperor  gave  her,  on  the  spot,  the  sum  of  three 
thousand  francs2  in  gold,  and  ordered  me  to  untie  the  rolls 
and  pour  them  all  into  the  good  woman's  lap. 

At  the  sight  of  so  much  gold  the  latter  grew  pale, 
reeled,  and  I  saw  she  was  fainting.  "  Ah,  that  is  too 
much,  Monsieur,  that  is  indeed  too  much.  Surely  you 
could  not  be  making  sport  of  a  poor  woman !  " 

The  Emperor  assured  her  that  it  was  indeed  all  hers, 
and  that  with  this  money  she  could  buy  a  little  field,  a 
flock  of  goats,  and  raise  her  children  well. 

His  Majesty  did  not  make  himself  known ;  for  he  liked, 
in  dispensing  his  benefits,  to  preserve  his  incognito,  and  I 
knew,  during  his  life,  a  large  number  of  instances  similar 
to  the  foregoing.  It  seems  that  historians  have  made  it  a 
point  to  pass  them  over  in  silence ;  and  yet  it  is,  I  think,  by 
the  rehearsal  of  just  such  deeds  that  a  correct  idea  of  the 
Emperor's  character  can  and  should  be  formed. 

Deputations  from  the  Ligurian  Republic,  with  the  Doge 
at  their  head,  had  come  to  Milan  to  entreat  the  Emperor  to 
annex  Genoa  and  its  territory  to  the  Empire,  which  demand 
his  Majesty  took  care  not  to  refuse,  and  by  a  decree 
formed  of  the  Genoese  states  three  departments  of  his 
Italian  kingdom.  The  Emperor  and  Empress  set  out  from 
Milan  to  visit  these  departments  and  some  others. 

We  had  been  at  Mantua  a  short  time,  when  one  even- 

1  Eighty  dollars.  —  TRANS.  2  Six  hundred  dollars.  —  TRANS. 


366  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ing,  about  six  o'clock,  Grand  Marshal  Duroc  gave  me  an 
order  to  remain  alone  in  a  little  room  adjoining  that  of  the 
Emperor,  and  informed  me  that  Count  Lucien  Bonaparte 
would  arrive  soon.  He  came  in  a  few  moments ;  and  as 
soon  as  he  announced  himself,  I  introduced  him  into  the 
Emperor's  bedroom,  and  then  knocked  at  the  door  of  the 
Emperor's  cabinet,  to  inform  him  of  his  arrival.  After 
saluting  each  other,  the  two  brothers  shut  themselves  up 
in  the  room,  and  there  soon  arose  between  them  a  very  ani- 
mated discussion;  and  being  compelled  to  remain  in  the 
little  saloon,  much  against  my  will,  I  overheard  a  great  part 
of  the  conversation.  The  Emperor  was  urging  his  brother 
to  get  a  divorce,  and  promised  him  a  crown  if  he  would  do 
this ;  but  Lucien  replied  that  he  would  never  abandon  the 
mother  of  his  children,  which  refusal  irritated  the  Emperor 
so  greatly,  that  his  expressions  became  harsh  and  even 
insulting.  When  this  altercation  had  lasted  more  than  an 
hour,  M.  Lucien  came  out  from  it  in  a  deplorable  condition, 
pale  and  disheveled,  his  eyes  red  and  filled  with  tears ; 
and  we  did  not  see  him  again,  for,  on  quitting  his  brother, 
he  returned  to  Rome. 

The  Emperor  was  greatly  troubled  by  this  refusal  of 
his  brother,  and  did  not  open  his  mouth  on  retiring.  It 
has  been  maintained  that  the  disagreement  between  the 
brothers  was  caused  by  the  elevation  of  the  First  Consul 
to  the  Empire,  and  Lucien's  disapproval  of  this  step;  but 
that  is  a  mistake.  It  is  indeed  true  that  the  latter  had  pro- 
posed to  continue  the  Republic  under  the  government  of 
two  consuls,  who  were  to  be  Napoleon  and  Lucien,  one  to 
be  at  the  head  of  the  department  of  war  and  foreign  rela- 
tions, the  other  of  everything  connected  with  the  affairs  of 


NAPOLEON  AND  LUCIEN,  367 

the  interior ;  but  although  the  failure  of  this  plan  must  have 
disappointed  Lucien,  the  avidity  with  which  he  accepted 
the  titles  of  senator  and  count  of  the  Empire  proved  that 
he  cared  very  little  for  a  republic  of  which  he  was  not  to  be 
one  of  the  heads.  I  am  sure  that  the  marriage  of  Monsieur 
Lucien  to  Madame  Jouberthon  was  the  only  cause  of  this 
disagreement.  The  Emperor  disapproved  of  this  union 
because  the  lady's  reputation  was  somewhat  doubtful,  and 
she  was  also  divorced  from  her  husband,  who  had  become 
insolvent,  and  had .  fled  to  America.  This  insolvency,  and 
the  divorce  especially,  offended  Napoleon  deeply,  who 
always  felt  a  great  repugnance  for  divorced  people. 

Before  this,  the  Emperor  had  wished  to  raise  his  brother 
to  the  rank  of  sovereign,  by  making  him  marry  the  Queen 
of  Etruria,  who  had  lost  her  husband.  Lucien  had  refused 
this  alliance  on  several  different  occasions ;  and  at  last  the 
Emperor  became  angry,  and  said  to  him,  "  You  see  how 
far  you  are  carrying  your  infatuation  and  your  foolish  love 
for  afemme  galante."  —  "At  least,"  replied  Lucien,  "mine 
is  young  and  pretty,"  alluding  to  the  Empress  Josephine, 
who  had  been  both  the  one  and  the  other. 

The  boldness  of  this  reply  excited  the  Emperor's  anger 
beyond  all  bounds.  At  that  moment  he  held  in  his  hands 
his  watch,  which  he  dashed  with  all  his  might  on  the  floor, 
crying  out,  "Since  you  will  listen  to  nothing,  see,  I  will 
break  you  like  this  watch." 

Differences  had  arisen  between  the  brothers  before  the 
establishment  of  the  Empire ;  and  among  the  acts  which 
caused  the  disgrace  of  Lucien,  I  have  often  heard  the  fol- 
lowing cited. 

Lucien,   being   minister   of   the   interior,   received   the 


368  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

order  of  the  First  Consul  to  let  no  wheat  go  out  of  the 
territory  of  the  Republic.  Our  warehouses  were  filled,  and 
France  abundantly  supplied;  but  this  was  not  the  case  in 
England,  and  the  scarcity  of  it  was  beginning  to  be  felt 
there.  It  was  never  known  how  it  happened ;  but  the  larger 
part  of  this  grain  passed  the  Strait  of  Calais,  and  it  was 
stated  positively  that  the  sum  of  twenty  millions  was 
received  for  it.  On  learning  this,  the  First  Consul  took 
away  the  portfolio  of  the  interior  from  his  brother,  and 
appointed  him  ambassador  to  Spain. 

At  Madrid,  Monsieur  Lucien  was  well  received  by  the 
king  and  the  royal  family,  and  became  the  intimate  friend 
of  Don  Manuel  Godoy,  Prince  de  la  Paix.  It  was  during 
this  mission,  and  by  agreement  with  the  Prince  de  la  Paix, 
that  the  treaty  of  Badajos  was  concluded,  in  order  to  pro- 
cure which  it  is  said  that  Portugal  gave  thirty  millions. 
It  has  been  also  declared  that  more  than  this  sum,  paid 
in  gold  and  diamonds,  was  divided  between  the  two  pleni- 
potentiaries, who  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  render  an 
account  of  this  transaction  to  their  respective  courts. 

Charles  IV.  loved  Lucien  tenderly,  and  felt  for  the  First 
Consul  the  greatest  veneration.  After  examining  carefully 
several  Spanish  horses  which  he  intended  for  the  First 
Consul,  he  said  to  his  head  groom :  "  How  fortunate  you 
are,  and  how  I  envy  your  happiness  !  you  are  going  to  see 
the  great  man,  and  you  will  speak  to  him ;  how  I  should 
like  to  take  your  place  !  " 

During  his  embassage  Lucien  had  paid  his  court  to  a 
person  of  most  elevated  rank,  and  had  received  her  portrait 
in  a  medallion  surrounded  with  very  fine  brilliants.  I  have 
seen  a  hundred  times  this  portrait  which  he  wore  sus- 


LUMEN'S  FIRST  MARRIAGE.  369 

pendcd  from  his  neck  by  a  chain  of  most  beautiful  black 
hair ;  and  far  from  making  a  mystery  of  it,  he  endeavored, 
on  the  contrary,  to  show  it,  and  bent  over  so  that  the  rich 
medallion  could  be  seen  hanging  on  his  breast. 

Before  his  departure  from  Madrid,  the  king  likewise 
made  him  a  present  of  his  own  portrait  in  miniature,  also 
set  in  diamonds. 

These  stones,  remounted  and  set  in  the  form  of  a  hat 
buckle,  passed  to  the  second  wife  of  Lucien.  I  will  now 
give  an  account  of  his  marriage  with  Madame  Jouberthon, 
as  related  to  me  by  a  person  who  resided  in  the  same 
house. 

The  First  Consul  was  informed  each  day,  and  very 
promptly,  of  all  that  took  place  in  the  interior  of  the  homes 
of  his  brothers,  a  circumstantial  account  being  rendered, 
even  as  to  the  smallest  particulars  and  the  slightest  details. 
Lucien,  wishing  to  marry  Madame  Jouberthon,  whom  he 
had  met  at  the  house  of  the  Count  de  L ,  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  his,  wrote  between  two  and  three  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  to  Duquesnoy,  mayor  of  the  tenth  arrondisse- 
ment,  requesting  him  to  come  to  his  residence,  Rue  Saint 
Dominique,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  bring 
the  marriage  register. 

Between  five  and  six  o'clock  Monsieur  Duquesnoy, 
mayor  of  the  tenth  arrondissement,  received  from  the 
chateau  of  the  Tuileries  an  order  not  to  take  the  register 
out  of  the  municipality,  and  above  all  not  to  celebrate  any 
marriage  whatever,  unless,  in  accordance  with  the  law,  the 
names  of  the  parties  thereto  had  been  published  for  eight 
days. 

At  the  hour  indicated  Duquesnoy  arrived  at  the  resi- 


370  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

dence,  and  asked  to  speak  in  private  to  the  count,  to 
whom  he  communicated  the  order  emanating  from  the 
chateau. 

Beside  himself  with  anger,  Lucien  immediately  hired 
a  hundred  post-horses  for  himself  and  friends;  and  with- 
out delay  he  and  Madame  Jouberthon,  with  these  friends 
and  the  people  of  his  household,  took  carriages  for  the  cha- 
teau of  Plessis-Chamant,  a  pleasure-house  half  a  league 
beyond  Senlis.  The  cure  of  the  place,  who  was  also  asso- 
ciate mayor,  was  summoned,  and  at  midnight  pronounced 
the  civil  marriage  ;  then,  putting  on  his  sacerdotal  robes 
over  the  scarf  he  wore  as  an  officer  of  the  civil  state, 
he  bestowed  on  the  fugitives  the  nuptial  benediction.  A 
good  supper  was  then  served,  at  which  the  assistant  and 
cure  were  present ;  but,  as  he  returned  to  his  vicarage  about 
six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  saw  at  his  gate  a  post- 
chaise,  guarded  by  two  soldiers,  and  on  entering  his  house, 
found  there  an  officer  of  the  armed  police,  who  invited 
him  politely  to  be  kind  enough  to  accompany  him  to  Paris. 
The  poor  curate  thought  himself  lost;  but  he  was  com- 
pelled to  obey,  under  penalty  of  being  carried  to  Paris 
from  one  guard-house  to  another  by  the  police. 

Nothing  was  left  for  him  but  to  enter  the  fatal  chaise, 
which  was  drawn  at  a  gallop  by  two  good  horses,  and  soon 
arrived  at  the  Tuileries,  where  he  was  brought  into  the 
cabinet  of  the  First  Consul,  who  said  to  him  in  a  voice  of 
thunder,  "  It  is  you,  then,  Monsieur,  who  marry  members  of 
my  family  without  my  consent,  and  without  having  pub- 
lished the  bans,  as  is  your  duty  in  your  double  character 
of  cure"  and  assistant  mayor.  You  well  know  that  you 
deserve  to  be  deprived  of  your  office,  excommunicated, 


ANGER    OF  THE  FIRST  CONSUL.  371 

and  tried  before  the  courts."  The  unfortunate  priest 
believed  himself  already  in  prison ;  but  after  a  severe  lec- 
ture he  was  sent  back  to  his  curacy,  and  the  two  brothers 
were  never  reconciled. 

In  spite  of  all  these  differences,  Lucien  always  counted 
on  the  affection  of  his  brother  to  obtain  him  a  kingdom. 
I  guarantee  the  authenticity  of  the  following  incident, 
wliich  was  related  to  me  by  a  reliable  person:  Lucien 
had  in  charge  of  his  establishment  a  friend  of  his  early 
youth,  the  same  age  as  himself,  and  like  him  born  in 
Corsica,  who  was  named  Campi,  and  enjoyed  the  most 
confidential  relations  in  the  count's  household.  On  the 
day  that  the  Moniteur  gave  a  list  of  the  new  French 
princes,  Campi  was  promenading  in  the  handsome  gallery 
of  pictures  collected  by  Lucien,  with  the  latter's  young 
secretary,  when  the  following  conversation  occurred  be- 
tween them.  "  You  have  no  doubt  read  the  Moniteur 
of  to-day?"  —  "Yes."- -"You  have  seen  that  all  the 
members  of  the  family  have  had  the  title  of  French 
princes  bestowed  on  them,  and  the  name  of  monsieur  le 
count  alone  is  wanting  to  the  list."  —"What  matters 
that  ?  There  are  kingdoms."  -  "  Considering  the  care 
that  sovereigns  take  to  keep  them,  there  will  hardly  be 
any  vacancy."  •  —  "  Ah,  well,  they  will  be  made.  All  the 
royal  families  of  Europe  are  worn  out,  and  we  must  have 
new  ones."  Thereupon  Campi  was  silent,  and  advised 
the  young  man  to  hold  his  tongue,  if  he  wished  to  pre- 
serve the  favor  of  the  count.  However,  it  was  not  long 
after  this  before  the  young  secretary  repeated  this  confi- 
dential conversation,  wliich,  without  being  singularly  strik- 
ing, gives,  however,  an  idea  of  the  amount  of  confidence 


372  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

which  should  be  placed  in  the  pretended  moderation  of 
Count  Lucien,  and  in  the  epigrams  against  his  brother  and 
his  family  which  have  been  attributed  to  him. 

No  one  in  the  chateau  was  ignorant  of  the  hostility 
which  existed  between  Lucien  Bonaparte  and  the  Empress 
Josephine;  and  to  make  their  court  to  the  latter  the 
former  habitues  of  Malmaison,  now  become  the  courtiers  of 
the  Tuileries,  were  in  the  habit  of  relating  to  her  the  most 
piquant  anecdotes  they  could  collect  relative  to  the 
younger  brother  of  the  Emperor.  Thus  it  happened  that 
by  chance  one  day  I  heard  a  dignified  person  and  a 
senator  of  the  Empire  give  the  Empress,  in  the  gayest 
manner  imaginable,  very  minute  details  as  to  one  of  the 
temporary  liaisons  of  Count  Lucien.  I  do  not  guaran- 
tee the  authenticity  of  the  anecdote,  and  I  experience 
in  writing  it  more  embarrassment  than  the  senator  dis- 
played in  relating  it,  and  omit,  indeed,  a  mass  of  details 
which  the  narrator  gave  without  blushing,  and  without 
driving  off  his  audience ;  for  my  object  is  to  throw  light 
upon  the  family  secrets  of  the  imperial  household,  and 
on  the  habits  of  the  persons  who  were  nearest  the  Em- 
peror, and  not  to  publish  scandal,  though  I  could  justify 
myself  by  the  example  of  a  dignitary  of  the  Empire. 

Count  Lucien  (I  do  not  know  in  what  year)  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  good  graces  of  Mademoiselle  Mese- 
rai,  an  actress  of  the  Theatre  Fran§ais,  who  was  both 
pretty  and  sprightly.  The  conquest  was  not  difficult,  in 
the  first  place,  because  this  had  never  been  her  character 
towards  any  one,  and,  secondly,  because  the  artiste  knew 
the  great  wealth  of  the  count,  and  believed  him  to  be 
prodigal.  The  first  attentions  of  her  lover  confirmed  her 


ANECDOTE   OF  LUCIEN.  373 

in  this  opinion,  and  she  demanded  a  house.  He  at  once 
presented  her  with  one  richly  and  elegantly  furnished, 
the  deed  being  put  in  her  hands  on  the  day  she  took 
possession;  and  each  visit  of  the  count  added  to  the 
actress's  wardrobe  or  jewel-case  some  new  gifts.  This 
lasted  some  months,  at  the  end  of  which  Lucien  became 
disgusted  with  his  bargain,  and  began  to  consider  by 
what  means  to  break  it  without  losing  too  much.  Among 
other  things,  he  had  made  mademoiselle  a  present  of  a 
pair  of  girandoles,  containing  diamonds  of  great  value. 
In  one  of  the  last  interviews,  before  the  count  had 
allowed  any  signs  of  coldness  to  be  seen,  he  perceived 
the  girandoles  on  the  toilet-table  of  his  mistress,  and, 
taking  them  in  his  hands,  said,  "  Really,  my  dear,  you 
do  me  injustice;  why  do  you  not  show  more  confidence 
in  me?  I  do  not  wish  you  to  wear  jewelry  so  much 
out  of  date  as  these."  •  — "  Why,  it  has  been  only  six 
months  since  you  gave  them  to  me."  -  —  "  I  know  it ;  but 
a  woman  of  good  taste,  a  woman  who  respects  herself, 
should  never  wear  anything  six  months  old.  I  will  take 
the  ear-rings  and  send  them  to  de  Villiers  [he  was  the 
count's  jeweler],  with  orders  to  mount  them  as  I  wish." 
The  count  was  tenderly  thanked  for  so  'delicate  an  atten- 
tion, and  put  the  girandoles  in  his  pocket,  with  one  or 
two  necklaces  which  had  also  been  his  gift,  and  which 
did  not  appear  to  him  sufficiently  new  in  style,  and  the 
breach  took  place  before  any  of  these  had  been  returned. 
Notwithstanding  this,  Mademoiselle  believed  herself 
well  provided  for  with  her  furniture  and  her  house,  until 
one  morning  the  true  proprietor  came  to  ask  her  wishes  as 
to  making  a  new  lease.  She  ran  to  examine  her  deed, 


374  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

which  she  had  not  yet  thought  to  do,  and  found  that  it 
was  simply  a  description  of  the  property,  at  the  end  of 
which  was  a  receipt  for  two  years'  rent. 

During  our  stay  at  Genoa  the  heat  was  insupportable ; 
from  this  the  Emperor  suffered  greatly,  saying  he  had 
never  experienced  the  like  in  Egypt,  and  undressed  many 
times  a  day.  His  bed  was  covered  with  a  mosquito  net- 
ting, for  the  insects  were  numerous  and  worrying.  The 
windows  of  the  bedroom  looked  out  upon  a  grand  terrace 
on  the  margin  of  the  sea,  and  from  them  could  be  seen  the 
gulf  and  all  the  surrounding  country.  The  fetes  given 
by  the  city  were  superb.  An  immense  number  of  vessels 
were  fastened  together,  and  filled  with  orange-  and  citron- 
trees  and  shrubs,  some  covered  with  flowers,  some  with 
fruits,  and  all  combined  formed  a  most  exquisite  floating 
garden  which  their  Majesties  visited  on  a  magnificent 
yacht. 

On  his  return  to  France,  the  Emperor  made  no  halt  be- 
tween Turin  and  Fontainebleau.  He  traveled  incognito,  in 
the  name  of  the  minister  of  the  interior,  and  went  at  such 
speed  that  at  each  relay  they  were  obliged  to  throw  water 
on  the  wheels ;  but  in  spite  of  this  his  Majesty  complained 
of  the  slowness  of  the  postilions,  and  cried  continually, 
"  Hurry  up  I  hurry  up !  we  are  hardly  moving."  Many 
of  the  servants'  carriages  were  left  in  the  rear;  though 
mine  experienced  no  delay,  and  I  arrived  at  each  relay  at 
the  same  time  as  the  Emperor. 

In  ascending  the  steep  hill  of  Tarare,  the  Emperor 
alighted  from  the  carriage,  as  did  also  Berthier,  who  accom- 
panied him ;  the  carriages  of  the  suite  being  some  distance 
behind,  as  the  drivers  had  stopped  to  breathe  their  horses. 


THE  OLD    WOMAN  OF  TARARE.  375 

His  Majesty  saw,  climbing  the  hill  a  few  steps  before  him, 
an  old,  decrepit  woman,  who  hobbled  along  with  great  dif- 
ficulty. As  the  Emperor  approached  her  he  inquired  why, 
infirm  as  she  was,  and  apparently  so  fatigued,  she  should 
attempt  to  travel  so  difficult  a  road. 

" Sir,"  replied  she,  "they  tell  me  the  Emperor  is  to  pass 
along  here,  and  I  wish  to  see  him  before  I  die."  His  Maj- 
esty, who  liked  to  be  amused,  said  to  her,  "Ah,  but  why 
trouble  yourself  about  him?  He  is  a  tyrant,  like  all  the 
rest."  The  good  woman,  indignant  at  this  remark,  angrily 
replied,  "  At  least,  Sir,  he  is  our  choice ;  and  since  we  must 
have  a  master,  it  is  at  least  right  that  we  should  choose 
him."  I  was  not  an  eye-witness  of  this  incident;  but  I 
heard  the  Emperor  himself  relate  it  to  Dr.  Corvisart, 
with  some  remarks  upon  the  good  sense  of  the  masses, 
who,  according  to  the  opinion  of  his  Majesty  and  his  chief 
doctor,  had  generally  formed  very  correct  opinions. 


376  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Sojourn  at  Munich  and  Stuttgart.  —  Marriage  of  Prince  Eugene  to  the  Prin- 
cess Augusta  Amelia  of  Bavaria. — Fetes.  —  Mutual  affection  of  the 
Vice-King  and  Queen. — How  the  Vice-King  reared  his  children. — An 
incident  in  the  childhood  of  her  Majesty  the  present  Empress  of  Brazil. 

—  Sketch  of  the  late  King  of  Bavaria,  Maximilian  Joseph.  —  Incidents 
of  his  former  service  at  Strasburg  as  colonel  in  the  service  of  France. 
— Love  of  the  Bavarians  for  that  excellent  Prince.  —  Devotion  of  the 
King  of  Bavaria  to  Napoleon.  —  The  hand  of  Constant  in  a  royal  hand. 

—  Contrast  between  the  destiny  of  the  King  of  Bavaria  and  that  of  the 
Emperor.  —  The  two  tombs.  —  Description  of  the  Prince  Royal,  now  the 
King  of  Bavaria.  —  Deafness  and  stammering.  —  Gravity   and  love  of 
study.  —  Opposition  of  the  Prince  Royal  to  the  Emperor.  — Visit  of  Prince 
Louis  (of  Bavaria)  to  Paris.  —  Slumber  of  this  prince  at  the  theater,  and 
the  siesta  of  the  arch-chancelor  of  the  Empire.  —  Sketch  of  the  King  of 
Wurtemberg. — His  enormous  stoutness.  —  His  position  at  table. — His 
passion  for  hunting. — Difficult  to  find  a  suitable  horse  for  him.  —  How 
they  trained  the  king's  horses  to  carry  the  enormous  weight  of  their  mas- 
ter.—  Excessive  harshness  of  the  King  of  Wurtemberg.  —  Singular  de- 
tails on  this  subject.  — Fidelity  shown  by  this  monarch.  —  Luxury  of  the 
King  of  Wurtemberg.  —  The  Prince  Royal  of  Wurtemberg.  —  The  Prince 
Primate.  —  Out-of-date  toilets  and  German  princesses.  —  Their  coaches 
and  hoop-skirts.  —  The  journals  of  fashion,  French.  — Miserable  coaches. 

—  Sketch  of  the  Prince  of  Saxe-Gotha.  —  Coquetry  of  this  ci-devant 
young  man. — Michalon,  the  hair-dresser,  and  wigs  «  la  Cupid.  —  Extrava- 
gant toilette  of  a  princess  of  the  Confederation  at  a  court  theater.  —  Ma- 
dame Cuntgonde. — The  Empress  Josephine  is  reminded  of  Candide. — 
Prince  Murat,  Grand  Duke  of  Berg  and  Cleves.  —  Prince  Charles  Louis 
Frederic  of  Baden  comes  to  Paris  to  marry  a  niece  of  the  Empress  Jose- 
phine. —  Sketch  of  this  prince. —  The  wedding-night.  —  Vigorous  resis- 
tance.—  Consideration  of  her  good  husband. — The  queue  sacrificed. — 
Reconciliation  and  a  happy  household.  —  The  Grand  Duke  of  Baden  at 
Erfurt.  — The  Emperor  Alexander  excites  his  jealousy.  —  Illness  and 
death  of  the  Grand  Duke  of  Baden. —A  word  as  to  his  family. —  The 
Grand  Duchess  devotes  herself  to  the  education  of  her  daughters.  — 
Fetes,  hunting,   etc.  —  Gravity  of  the  Turkish   ambassador  during  an 
imperial  hunt.  —  He  refuses  the  honor  of  firing  the  first  shot. 


AJUGEIREAIU. 


MASRIAGE  OF  PRINCE  EUGENE.  377 

His  Majesty  the  Emperor  passed  the  month  of  January, 
1806,  at  Munich  and  Stuttgard,  during  which,  in  the  first 
of  these  two  capitals,  the  marriage  of  the  vice-king  and  the 
Princess  of  Bavaria  was  celebrated.  On  this  occasion  there 
was  a  succession  of  magnificent  fetes,  of  which  the  Em- 
peror was  always  the  hero,  and  at  which  his  hosts  tried,  by 
every  variety  of  homage,  to  express  to  this  great  man  the 
admiration  with  which  liis  military  genius  inspired  them. 

The  vice-king  and  vice-queen  had  never  met  before 
their  marriage,  but  were  soon  as  much  attached  to  each 
other  as  if  they  had  been  acquainted  for  years,  for  never 
were  two  persons  more  perfectly  congenial.  No  princess, 
ajid  indeed  no  mother,  could  have  manifested  more  affec- 
tion and  care  for  her  children  than  the  vice-queen ;  and  she 
might  well  serve  as  a  model  for  all  women.  I  have  been 
told  an  incident  concerning  this  admirable  princess  which 
I  take  pleasure  in  relating  here.  One  of  her  daughters, 
who  was  quite  young,  having  spoken  in  a  very  harsh  tone 
to  her  maid,  her  most  serene  highness  the  vice-queen  was 
informed  of  it,  and  in  order  to  give  her  daughter  a  lesson, 
forbade  the  servants  to  render  the  young  princess  any  ser- 
vice, or  to  reply  to  any  of  her  demands,  from  that  time. 
The  child  at  once  complained  to  her  mother,  who  told  her 
gravely  that  when  any  one  received,  like  her,  the  care  and 
attention  of  all  around  them,  it  was  necessary  to  merit  this, 
and  to  show  her  appreciation  by  consideration  and  an  obli- 
ging politeness.  Then  she  required  her  to  ask  pardon  of  the 
femme  de  chambre,  and  henceforward  to  speak  to  her  po- 
litely, assuring  her  that  by  this  means  she  would  always 
obtain  compliance  with  all  reasonable  and  just  requests  she 
might  make. 


378  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  child  obeyed ;  and  the  lesson  was  of  such  benefit  to 
her  that  she  became,  if  general  report  is  to  be  believed,  one 
of  the  most  accomplished  princesses  of  Europe.  The  re- 
port of  her  perfections  spread  abroad  even  to  the  New 
World,  which  contended  for  her  with  the  Old,  and  has 
been  fortunate  enough  to  obtain  her.  She  is  at  this  time, 
I  think,  Empress  of  Brazil. 

His  Majesty  the  King  of  Bavaria,  Maximilian  Joseph, 
then  about  fifty  years  of  age,  was  very  tall,  with  a  noble 
and  attractive  physiognomy  and  fascinating  manners.  Be- 
fore the  Revolution  he  had  been  colonel  of  an  Alsatian 
regiment  in  the  service  of  France,  under  the  name  of  Prince 
Maximilian,  or  Prince  Max  as  the  soldiers  called  him,  and 
stationed  at  Strasburg,  where  he  left  a  reputation  for  ele- 
gance and  chivalrous  gallantry.  His  subjects,  his  family, 
his  servants,  everybody,  adored  him.  He  often  took  long 
walks  through  the  city  of  Munich  in  the  morning,  went  to 
the  market,  inquired  the  price  of  grain,  entered  the  shops, 
spoke  to  every  one,  especially  the  children,  whom  he  per- 
suaded to  go  to  school.  This  excellent  prince  did  not  fear 
to  compromise  his  dignity  by  the  simplicity  of  his  manners ; 
and  he  was  right,  for  I  do  not  think  any  one  ever  failed  to 
show  him  respect,  and  the  love  which  he  inspired  lessened 
in  no  wise  the  veneration  which  was  felt  for  him.  Such 
was  his  devotion  to  the  Emperor,  that  his  kindly  feelings 
extended  even  to  the  persons  who  by  their  functions  ap- 
proached nearest  to  his  Majesty,  and  were  in  the  best  posi- 
tion to  know  his  needs  and  wishes.  Thus  (I  do  not  relate 
it  out  of  vanity,  but  in  proof  of  what  I  have  just  said)  his 
Majesty  the  King  of  Bavaria  never  came  to  see  the  Emperor, 
that  he  did  not  take  my  hand  and  inquire  first  after  the 


LOUIS   OF  BAVARIA.  379 

health  of  his  Imperial  Majesty,  then  after  my  own,  adding 
many  things  which  plainly  showed  his  attachment  for  the 
Emperor  and  his  natural  goodness. 

His  Majesty  the  King  of  Bavaria  is  now  in  the  tomb, 
like  him  who  gave  him  a  throne ;  but  this  tomb  is  still  a 
royal  tomb,  and  the  loyal  Bavarians  can  come  to  kneel 
and  weep  over  it.  The  Emperor,  on  the  contrary  —  l 
The  virtuous  Maximilian  was  able  to  leave  to  a  worthy  son 
the  scepter  which  he  had  received  from  him  who  perished 
an  exile  at  St.  Helena. 

Prince  Louis,  the  present  King  of  Bavaria,  and  to-day 
perhaps  the  best  king  in  Europe,  was  not  so  tall  as  his 
august  father,  neither  was  his  face  so  handsome ;  and,  un- 
fortunately, he  was  afflicted  with  an  extreme  deafness, 
which  made  him  raise  his  voice  without  knowing  it,  and 
in  addition  to  this  his  utterance  was  impeded  by  a  slight 
stammering.  This  prince  was  grave  and  studious  ;  and  the 
Emperor  recognized  his  merit,  but  did  not  rely  upon  his 
friendship.  This  was  not  because  he  thought  him  wanting 
in  loyalty,  for  the  prince  royal  was  above  such  suspicion ; 
but  the  Emperor  was  aware  that  he  belonged  to  a  party 
which  feared  the  subjection  of  Germany,  and  who  suspected 
that  the  French,  although  they  had  so  far  attacked  only 
Austria,  had  ideas  of  conquest  over  all  the  German  powers. 

However,  what  I  have  just  stated  in  regard  to  the  prince 
royal  relates  only  to  the  years  subsequent  to  1806 ;  for  I 
am  certain  that  at  that  epoch  his  sentiments  did  not  differ 

1  Constant  wrote  this  before  the  return,  in  1840,  of  the  ashes  of  Napoleon 
to  rest  on  "  the  banks  of  the  Seine,  amid  the  French  people  whom  he  loved  so 
well,"  where  in  a  massive  urn  of  porphyry,  and  beneath  the  gilded  dome  of 
the  Invalides,  in  the  most  splendid  tomb  of  the  centuries,  sleeps  now  the  sol- 
dier of  Lodi,  Marengo,  Austerlitz,  Wagram,  and  Waterloo. — TRANS. 


380  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

from  those  of  the  good  Maximilian,  who  was,  as  I  have 
said,  full  of  gratitude  to  the  Emperor.  Prince  Louis  came 
to  Paris  at  the  beginning  of  this  year ;  and  I  saw  him  many 
times  at  the  court  theater  in  the  box  of  the  prince  arch- 
chancelor,  where  they  both  slept  hi  company  and  very  pro- 
foundly. This  was  also  such  a  habit  with  Cambaceres, 
that  when  the  Emperor  asked  for  him,  and  was  told  that 
monseigneur  was  at  the  theater,  he  replied,  "Very  well, 
very  well ;  he  is  taking  his  siesta  ;  let  us  not  disturb  him !" 
The  King  of  Wiirtemburg  was  large,  and  so  fat  that  it 
was  said  of  him  God  had  put  him  in  the  world  to  prove 
how  far  the  skin  of  a  man  could  be  stretched.  His  stomach 
was  of  such  dimensions  that  it  was  found  necessary  to 
make  a  broad,  round  incision  in  front  of  his  seat  at  the 
table;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  this  precaution,  he  was 
obliged  to  hold  his  plate  on  a  level  with  his  chin  to  drink 
his  soup.  He  was  very  fond  of  hunting,  either  on  horse- 
back, or  in  a  little  Russian  carriage  drawn  by  four  horses, 
which  he  often  drove  himself.  He  was  fond  of  horseback 
riding,  but  it  was  no  easy  task  to  find  a  mount  of  size 
and  strength  sufficient  to  carry  so  heavy  a  burden.  It  was 
necessary  that  the  poor  animal  should  be  progressively 
trained ;  and  in  order  to  accomplish  this  the  king's  equerry 
fastened  round  the  horse  a  girth  loaded  with  pieces  of  lead, 
increasing  the  weight  daily  till  it  equalled  that  of  his 
Majesty.  The  king  was  despotic,  hard,  and  even  cruel, 
ever  ready  to  sign  the  sentence  of  the  condemned,  and  in 
almost  all  cases,  if  what  is  said  at  Stuttgart  be  true,  in- 
creased the  penalty  inflicted  by  the  judges.  Hard  to 
please,  and  brutal,  he  often  struck  the  people  of  his  house- 
hold; and  it  is  even  said  that  he  did  not  spare  her  Maj- 


THE  KING  OF  WURTEMBURG.  381 

esty  the  queen,  his  wife,  who  was  a  sister  of  the  present 
King  of  England.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  he  was  a 
prince  whose  knowledge  and  brilliant  mind  the  Emperor 
esteemed;  for  they  had  a  mutual  affection  for  each  other, 
and  he  found  him  faithful  to  his  alliance  to  the  very  end. 
King  Frederic  of  Wiirtemburg  had  a  brilliant  and  numer- 
ous court,  at  which  he  displayed  great  magnificence. 

The  hereditary  prince  was  much  beloved;  he  was  less 
haughty  and  more  humane  than  his  father,  and  was  said 
to  be  just  and  liberal. 

Besides  those  crowned  by  his  hand,  the  Emperor,  while 
in  Bavaria,  received  a  great  number  of  the  princes  of  the 
Confederation ;  and  they  usually  dined  with  his  Majesty. 
In  this  crowd  of  royal  courtiers  the  prince  primate  was 
noticeable,  who  differed  in  nothing  as  to  manners,  bearing, 
and  dress  from  the  most  fashionable  gentlemen  of  Paris. 
The  Emperor  paid  him  special  attention.  I  cannot  pay  the 
same  eulogy  to  the  toilet  of  the  princesses,  duchesses,  and 
other  noble  ladies ;  for  most  of  them  dressed  in  exceedingly 
bad  taste,  and,  displaying  neither  art  nor  grace,  covered 
their  heads  with  plumes,  bits  of  gold,  and  silver  gauze,  fas- 
tened with  a  great  quantity  of  diamond-headed  pins. 

The  equipages  the  German  nobility  used  were  all  very 
large  coaches,  which  were  a  necessity  from  the  enormous 
hoops  still  worn  by  those  ladies;  and  this  adherence  to 
antiquated  fashions  was  all  the  more  surprising,  because 
at  that  time  Germany  enjoyed  the  great  advantage  of  pos- 
sessing two  fashion  journals.  One  was  the  translation  of 
the  magazine  published  by  Mesangere ;  and  the  other,  also 
edited  at  Paris,  was  translated  and  printed  at  Mannheim. 
These  ridiculous  carriages,  which  much  resembled  our  an- 


382  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

cient  diligences,  were  drawn  by  very  inferior  horses,  har- 
nessed with  ropes,  .and  placed  so  far  apart  that  an  immense 
space  was  needed  to  turn  the  carriage. 

The  Prince  of  Saxe-Gotha  was  long  and  thin.  In  spite 
of  his  great  age,  he  was  enough  of  a  dandy  to  order  at 
Paris,  from  our  hairdresser  Michalon,  some  pretty  little 
wigs  of  youthful  blonde,  curled  like  the  hair  of  Cupid;  but, 
apart  from  this,  he  was  an  excellent  man.  I  recollect,  d 
propos  of  the  noble  German  ladies,  to  have  seen  at  the  court 
theater  at  Fontainebleau  a  princess  of  the  Confederation 
who  was  being  presented  to  their  Majesties.  The  toilet  of 
her  Highness  announced  an  immense  progress  in  the  ele- 
gance of  civilization  beyond  the  Rhine ;  for,  renouncing 
the  Gothic  hoops,  the  princess  had  adopted  the  very  latest 
fashions,  and,  though  nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  wore  a 
dress  of  black  lace  over  red  satin,  and  her  coiffure  consisted 
of  a  white  muslin  veil,  fastened  by  a  wreath  of  roses,  in 
the  style  of  the  vestals  of  the  opera.  She  had  with  her 
a  granddaughter,  brilliant  with  the  charm  of  youth,  and 
admired  by  the  whole  court,  although  her  costume  was 
less  stylish  than  that  of  her  grandmother. 

I  heard  her  Majesty,  the  Empress  Josephine,  relate  one 
day  that  she  had  much  difficulty  in  repressing  a  smile 
when,  among  a  number  of  German  princesses  presented  to 
her,  one  was  announced  under  the  name  of  Cunegonde.1 
Her  Majesty  added  that,  when  she  saw  the  princess  take  her 
seat,  she  imagined  she  saw  her  lean  to  one  side.  Assuredly 
the  Empress  had  read  the  adventures  of  Candide  and  the 
daughter  of  the  very  noble  baron  of  Thunder-Ten-Trunck. 

1  Cunegonde  was  the  mistress  of  Candide  in  Voltaire's  novel  of  Candide. 
—  TRANS. 


PRINCESS  STEPHANIE.  383 

At  Paris,  in  the  spring  of  1806,  I  saw  almost  as  many 
members  of  the  Confederation  as  I  had  seen  in  the  capitals 
of  Bavaria  and  Wiirtemburg.  A  French  name  had  the 
precedence  among  these  names  of  foreign  princes.  It  was 
that  of  Prince  Murat,  who  in  the  month  of  March  was  made 
Grand-duke  of  Berg  and  Cleves.  After  Prince  Louis  of 
Bavaria,  arrived  the  hereditary  prince  of  Baden,  who  came 
to  Paris  to  marry  a  niece  of  the  Empress. 

At  the  beginning  this  union  was  not  happy.  The  Prin- 
cess Stephanie  (de  Beauharnais)  was  a  very  pretty  woman, 
graceful  and  witty ;  and  the  Emperor  had  wished  to  make 
a  great  lady  of  her,  and  had  married  her  without  consulting 
her  wishes.  Prince  Charles-Louis-Frederic  was  then  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  though  exceedingly  good,  brave,  and  gen- 
erous, and  possessing  many  admirable  traits,  was  heavy  and 
phlegmatic,  ever  maintaining  an  icy  gravity,  and  entirely 
destitute  of  the  qualities  which  would  attract  a  young 
princess  accustomed  to  the  brilliant  elegance  of  the  im- 
perial court. 

The  marriage  took  place  in  April,  to  the  great  satisfac- 
tion of  the  prince,  who  that  day  appeared  to  do  violence  to 
his  usual  gravity,  and  even  allowed  a  smile  to  approach  his 
lips.  The  day  passed  off  very  well;  but,  when  the  time 
came  for  retiring,  the  princess  refused  to  let  him  share  her 
room,  and  for  eight  days  was  inexorable. 

He  was  told  that  the  princess  did  not  like  the  arrange- 
ment of  his  hair,  and  that  nothing  inspired  her  with  more 
aversion  than  a  queue ;  upon  which  the  good  prince  hastened 
to  have  his  hair  cut  close,  but  when  she  saw  him  thus  shorn, 
she  laughed  immoderately,  and  exclaimed  that  he  was  more 
ugly  a  la  Titus  than  he  was  before.  It  was  impossible 


384  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

that  the  intelligence  and  the  kind  heart  of  the  princess 
could  fail  to  appreciate  the  good  and  solid  qualities  of  her 
husband;  she  learned  to  love  him  as  tenderly  as  she  was 
loved,  and  I  am  assured  that  the  august  couple  lived  on 
excellent  terms. 

Three  months  after  this  marriage,  the  prince  left  his 
wife  to  follow  the  Emperor,  first  on  the  campaign  in 
Prussia,  and  afterwards  in  Poland.  The  death  of  his 
grandfather,  which  happened  some  time  after  the  Austrian 
campaign  of  1809,  put  him  in  possession  of  the  grand 
duchy,  whereupon  he  resigned  the  command  of  his  troops 
to  his  uncle  the  Count  of  Hochberg,  and  returned  to  his 
government,  never  more  to  leave  it. 

I  saw  him  again  with  the  princess  at  Erfurt,  where  they 
told  me  he  had  become  jealous  of  the  Emperor  Alexander, 
who  paid  assiduous  court  to  his  wife ;  at  which  the  prince 
took  alarm  and  abruptly  left  Erfurt,  carrying  with  him  the 
princess,  of  whom  it  must  in  justice  be  said  that  there  had 
been  on  her  part  not  the  slightest  imprudence  to  arouse 
this  jealousy,  which  seems  very  pardonable,  however,  hi 
the  husband  of  so  charming  a  woman. 

The  prince's  health  was  always  delicate,  and  from  his 
earliest  youth  alarming  symptoms  had  been  noticed  in  him ; 
and  this  physical  condition  was  no  doubt,  in  a  great  meas- 
ure, the  main  source  of  the  melancholy  which  marked  his 
character.  He  died  in  1818,  after  a  very  long  and  painful 
illness,  during  which  his  wife  nursed  him  with  the  most 
affectionate  care,  leaving  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  The  two  sons  died  young,  and  would  have  left 
the  grand  duchy  of  Baden  without  heirs,  if  the  Counts 
Hochberg  had  not  been  recognized  as  members  of  the 


PRINCESS   STEPHANIE.  385 

ducal  family.  The  grand-duchess  is  to-day  devoting  her  life 
to  the  education  of  her  daughters,  who  promise  to  equal 
her  in  graces  and  virtues.  The  nuptials  of  the  Prince  and 
Princess  of  Baden  were  celebrated  by  brilliant  fetes ;  at 
Rambouillet  took  place  a  great  hunting-party,  in  which 
their  Majesties,  with  many  members  of  their  family,  and 
all  the  princes  of  Baden,  Cleves,  etc.,  traversed  on  foot  the 
forests  of  Rambouillet. 

I  recollect  another  hunting-party,  which  took  place 
about  the  same  time  in  the  forest  of  Saint-Germain,  to  which 
the  Emperor  invited  the  ambassador  of  the  Sublime  Porte, 
then  just  arrived  at  Paris.  His  Turkish  Excellency  fol- 
lowed the  chase  with  ardor,  but  without  moving  a  muscle 
of  his  austere  countenance.  The  animal  having  been 
brought  to  bay,  his  Majesty  had  a  gun  handed  to  the 
Turkish  ambassador,  that  he  might  have  the  honor  of  firing 
the  first  shot;  but  he  refused,  not  conceiving,  doubtless, 
that  any  pleasure  could  be  found  in  slaying  at  short  range 
a  poor,  exhausted  animal,  who  no  longer  had  the  power  to 
protect  itself,  even  by  flight. 


386  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

Coalition  of  Russia  and  England  against  the  Emperor.  —  Army  of  Boulogne 
on  the  march  towards  the  Rhine.  —  Departure  of  the  Emperor.  —  Picture 
of  the  interior  of  the  Tuileries  before  and  after  the  departure  of  the  Em- 
peror for  the  army.  —  The  civil  courtiers,  and  the  day  without  a  sun. — 
Arrival  of  the  Emperor  at  Strasburg,  and  passage  of  the  bridge  of  Kehl. 

—  The  rendezvous.  —  The  Emperor  in  a   drenching  rain.  —  The  coal- 
burner's  hat.  —  Generals  Chardon  and  Vanclamme.  —  The   rendezvous 
forgotten,  and  why.  —  The  dozen  bottles  of  Rhine  wine.  —  Dissatisfaction 
of  the  Emperor.  —  General  Vandamme  sent  to  the  army  of  Wiirtem- 
berg.  —  His  brave  conduct  and  return  to  favor.  —  The  Emperor  precedes 
his  suite  and  baggage,  and  passes  the  night  in  a  cottage.  —  The  Emperor 
before  Ulm.  —  Combat  to  the  death.  —  Personal  courage  and  coolness  of 
the  Emperor.  —  The  military  cloak  of  the  Emperor  serving  as  a  shroud 
for  a  veteran.  —  The  cannoneer  wounded  unto  death.  —  The  surrender  of 
Ulm.  —  Thirty  thousand  men  lay  down  their  arms  at  the  feet  of  the 
Emperor. — Entrance  of  the  Imperial  Guard  into  Augsburg.  —  Passage 
through  Munich.  —  Oath  of  mutual  alliance  taken  by  the  Emperor  of 
Russia  and  the  King  of  Prussia  upon  the  tomb  of  Frederick  the  Great. 

—  Reconciliations.  —  Arrival  of  the  Russians.  —  The  coronation  and  the 
battle  of  Austerlitz.  —  The  Emperor  in  the  bivouac.  —  The  Emperor's 
slumbers.  —  Visit  to  the  advance  posts.  —  Military  illuminations.  — The 
Emperor  and  his  soldiers.  —  Bivouac  of  his  attendants.  —  I  make  punch 
for  the  Emperor. — I  am  overcome  with  fatigue,  and  sleep.  — The  awak- 
ening of  an  army. —Battle  of  Austerlitz.  — General  Rapp  is  wounded, 
and  the  Emperor  goes  to  see  him.  — The  Emperor  of  Austria  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon.  — Treaty  of  'peace.  —  Sojourn 
at  Vienna  and  Schoenbrunn.  —  Singular  meeting.  —  Napoleon  and  the 
daughter  of  M.  de  Marboauf .  —  The  courier  Moustache  sent  to  the  Em- 
press Josephine.  —  Reward  worthy  of  an  Empress.  —  Zeal  and  courage 
of  Moustache.  — His  horse  falls  dead  from  fatigue. 

THE  Emperor  remained  only  a  few  days  at  Paris,  after 
our  return  from  Italy,  before  setting  out  again  for  the  camp 
of  Boulogne.  The  fetes  of  Milan  had  not  prevented  him 


AUSTRIA   JOINS   THE  COALITION.  387 

from  maturing  his  political  plans,  and  it  was  suspected 
that  not  without  good  reason  had  he  broken  down  his 
horses  between  Turin  and  Paris.  These  reasons  were 
plainly  evident,  when  it  was  learned  that  Austria  had  en- 
tered secretly  into  the  coalition  of  Russia  and  England 
against  the  Emperor.  The  army  collected  in  the  camp  of 
Boulogne  received  orders  to  march  on  the  Rhine,  and  his 
Majesty  departed  to  rejoin  his  troops  about  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember. As  was  his  custom,  he  informed  us  only  an  hour  in 
advance  of  his  departure ;  and  it  was  curious  to  observe  the 
contrast  of  the  confusion  which  preceded  this  moment  with 
the  silence  that  followed  it.  Hardly  was  the  order  given, 
than  each  one  busied  himself  hastily  with  his  own  wants 
and  those  of  his  Majesty;  and  nothing  could  be  heard  in 
the  corridors  but  the  sound  of  domestics  coming  and  going, 
the  noise  of  cases  being  nailed  down,  and  boxes  being  car- 
ried out.  In  the  courts  appeared  a  great  number  of  car- 
riages and  wagons,  with  men  harnessing  them,  the  scene 
lighted  by  torches,  and  everywhere  oaths  and  cries  of  impa- 
tience ;  while  the  women,  each  in  her  own  room,  were 
sadly  occupied  with  the  departure  of  husband,  son,  or 
brother.  During  all  these  preparations  the  Emperor  was 
making  his  adieux  to  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  or  taking 
a  few  moments  of  repose ;  but  at  the  appointed  hour  he 
rose,  was  dressed,  and  entered  his  carriage.  Soon  after 
everything  was  silent  in  the  chateau,  and  only  a  few  iso- 
lated persons  could  be  seen  flitting  about  like  shadows ; 
silence  had  succeeded  to  noise,  solitude  to  the  bustle  of  a 
brilliant  and  numerous  court.  Next  morning  this  deep 
silence  was  broken  only  by  a  few  scattered  women  who 
sought  each  other  with  pale  faces  and  eyes  full  of  tears, 


388  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

to  communicate  their  grief  and  share  their  apprehensions. 
Many  courtiers,  who  were  not  of  the  party,  arrived  to  make 
their  court,  and  were  stupefied  on  learning  of  his  Majesty's 
absence,  feeling  as  if  the  sun  could  not  have  risen  that 
day. 

The  Emperor  went  without  halting  as  far  as  Strasburg ; 
and  the  day  after  his  arrival  in  this  town,  the  army  began 
to  file  out  over  the  bridge  of  Kehl. 

On  the  evening  before  this  march,  the  Emperor  had 
ordered  the  general  officers  to  be  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine 
on  the  following  day,  at  exactly  six  in  the  morning.  An 
hour  before  that  set  for  the  rendezvous,  his  Majesty,  not- 
withstanding the  rain  which  fell  in  torrents,  went  alone  to 
the  head  of  the  bridge,  to  assure  himself  of  the  execution 
of  the  orders  he  had  given,  and  stood  exposed  to  this  rain 
without  moving,  till  the  first  divisions  commenced  to  file 
out  over  the  bridge.  He  was  so  drenched  that  the  drops 
which  fell  from  his  clothing  ran  down  under  his  horse,  and 
there  formed  a  little  waterfall ;  and  his  cocked  hat  was  so 
wet  that  the  back  of  it  drooped  over  his  shoulders,  like 
the  large  felt  hats  of  the  coal-burners  of  Paris.  The 
generals  whom  he  was  awaiting  gathered  around  him ; 
and  when  he  saw  them  assembled,  he  said,  "All  goes 
well,  messieurs ;  this  is  a  new  step  taken  in  the  direction  of 
our  enemies ;  but  where  is  Vandamme  ?  Why  is  he  not 
here  ?  Can  he  be  dead  ?  "  No  one  said  a  word.  "  An- 
swer me,  what  has  become  of  Vandamme  ? "  General 
Chardon,  general  of  the  vanguard,  much  loved  by  the 
Emperor,  replied,  "  I  think,  Sire,  that  General  Vandamme 1 

1  Dominique  Rene  Vandamme,  Count  d'Unebourg,  born  at  Cassel,  1770, 
general  of  division,  1799,  presented  by  the  Emperor  for  bis  conduct  at  Auster- 


389 

is  still  asleep;  we  drank  together  last  evening  a  dozen 
bottles  of  Rhine  wine,  and  doubtless  "-  "  He  does  very- 
well  to  drink,  sir ;  but  he  is  wrong  to  sleep  when  I  am 
waiting  for  him."  General  Chardon  prepared  to  send  an 
aide-de-camp  to  his  companion  in  arms ;  but  the  Emperor 
prevented  him,  saying,  "  Let  Vandamme  sleep ;  I  will  speak 
to  him  later."  At  this  moment  General  Vandamme  ap- 
peared. "Well,  here  you  are,  sir;  you  seem  to  have  for- 
gotten the  order  that  I  gave  yesterday."  -  —  "  Sire,  this  is 
the  first  time  this  has  happened,  and  "  —  "  And  to  avoid  a 
repetition  of  it,  you  will  go  and  fight  under  the  banner 
of  the  King  of  Wiirtemburg;  I  hope  you  will  give  them 
lessons  in  sobriety." 

General  Vandamme  withdrew,  not  without  great  cha- 
grin, and  repaired  to  the  army  of  Wiirtemburg,  where  he 
performed  prodigies  of  valor.  After  the  campaign  he  re- 
turned to  the  Emperor,  his  breast  covered  with  decora- 
tions, bearing  a  letter  from  the  King  of  Wiirtemburg  to 
his  Majesty,  who,  after  reading  it,  said  to  Vandamme : 
"General,  never  forget  that,  if  I  admire  the  brave,  I  do 
not  admire  those  who  sleep  while  I  await  them."  He 
pressed  the  general's  hand,  and  invited  him  to  breakfast, 
in  company  with  General  Chardon,  who  was  as  much  grati- 
fied by  this  return  to  favor  as  was  his  friend. 

On  the  journey  to  Augsburg,  the  Emperor,  who  had  set 
out  in  advance,  made  such  speed  that  his  household  could 
not  keep  up  with  him;  and  consequently  he  passed  the 


litz  with  twenty  thousand  francs,  and  commander  of  a  corps  in  the  Austrian 
campaign,  1809.  In  1813  commanded  a  separate  army  and  captured  Ham- 
burg, but  was  forced  to  surrender  his  army  near  Kulm.  He  had  a  high  com- 
mand at  Ligny  (1815),  and  died  1830.  — TRANS. 


390  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

night,  without  attendants  or  baggage,  in  the  best  house  of 
a  very  poor  village.  When  we  reached  his  Majesty  next 
day,  he  received  us  laughing,  and  threatened  to  have  us 
taken  up  as  stragglers  by  the  provost  guard. 

From  Augsburg  the  Emperor  went  to  the  camp  before 
Ulm,  and  made  preparations  to  besiege  that  place. 

A  short  distance  from  the  town  a  fierce  and  obstinate 
engagement  took  place  between  the  French  and  Austrians, 
and  had  lasted  two  hours,  when  cries  of  Vive  V  Empereur  ! 
were  suddenly  heard.  This  name,  which  invariably  carried 
terror  into  the  enemy's  ranks,  and  always  imparted  fresh 
courage  to  our  soldiers,  now  electrified  them  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  put  the  Austrians  to  flight,  while  the 
Emperor  showed  himself  in  the  front  ranks,  crying  "For- 
ward," and  making  signs  to  the  soldiers  to  advance,  his 
Majesty's  horse  disappearing  from  time  to  time  in  the 
smoke  of  the  cannon.  During  this  furious  charge,  the 
Emperor  found  himself  near  a  grenadier  who  was  terribly 
wounded ;  and  yet  this  brave  fellow  still  shouted  with  the 
others,  "Forward!  forward!" 

The  Emperor  drew  near  him,  and  threw  liis  military 
cloak  over  him,  saying,  "  Try  to  bring  it  back  to  me,  and 
I  will  give  you  in  exchange  the  cross  that  you  have  just 
won."  The  grenadier,  who  knew  that  he  was  mortally 
wounded,  replied  that  the  shroud  he  had  just  received  was 
worth  as  much  as  the  decoration,  and  expired,  wrapped  in 
the  imperial  mantle. 

At  the  close  of  the  battle,  the  Emperor  had  this  grena- 
dier, who  was  also  a  veteran  of  the  army  of  Egypt,  borne 
from  the  field,  and  ordered  that  he  should  be  interred  in 
the  cloak. 


BATTLE  OF  ULM. 

Another  soldier,  not  less  courageous  than  the  one  of 
whom  I  have  just  spoken,  also  received  from  his  Majesty 
marks  of  distinction.  The  day  after  the  combat  before 
Ulm,  the  Emperor,  in  visiting  the  ambulances,  had  his 
attention  attracted  by  a  cannoneer  of  light  artillery,  who 
had  lost  one  leg,  but  in  spite  of  this  was  still  shouting  with 
all  his  might,  Vive  I  'Empereur  !  He  approached  the  soldier 
and  said  to  him,  "  Is  this,  then,  all  that  you  have  to  say  to 
me  ?  "  —  "  No,  Sire,  I  can  also  tell  you  that  I,  I  alone,  have 
dismounted  four  pieces  of  the  Austrian  cannon;  and  it  is 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  silenced  which  makes  me  for- 
get that  I  must  soon  close  my  eyes  forever."  The  Emperor, 
moved  by  such  fortitude,  gave  his  cross  to  the  cannoneer, 
noted  the  names  of  his  parents,  and  said  to  him,  "  If 
you  recover,  the  Hotel  des  Invalides  is  at  your  service."  - 
"Thanks,  Sire,  but  the  loss  of  blood  has  been  too  great; 
my  pension  will  not  cost  you  very  dear ;  I  know  well  that 
I  must  soon  be  off  duty,  but  long  live  the  Emperor  all  the 
same!"  Unfortunately  this  brave  man  realized  his  real 
condition  only  too  well,  for  he  did  not  survive  the  ampu- 
tation of  his  leg. 

We  followed  the  Emperor  into  Ulm  after  the  occupa- 
tion of  that  place,1  and  saw  a  hostile  army  of  more  than 
thirty  thousand  men  lay  down  their  arms  at  the  feet  of  his 
Majesty,  as  they  denied  before  him ;  and  I  have  never  be- 
held a  more  imposing  sight.  The  Emperor  was  seated  on 
his  horse,  a  few  steps  in  front  of  his  staff,  his  countenance 
wearing  a  calm  and  grave  expression,  in  spite  of  which  the 
joy  which  filled  his  heart  was  apparent  in  his  glance. 

He  raised  his  hat  every  moment  to  return  the  salutes  of 

1  Oct.  17, 1805.  —  TRANS. 


S92  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  superior  officers  of  the  Austrian  troops.  When  the  Im- 
perial Guard  entered  Augsburg,  eighty  grenadiers  marched 
at  the  head  of  the  columns,  each  bearing  a  banner  of  the 
enemy. 

The  Emperor,  on  his  arrival  at  Munich,  was  wel- 
comed with  the  greatest  respect  by  his  ally,  the  Elector  of 
Bavaria.  His  Majesty  went  several  times  to  the  theater 
and  the  hunt,  and  gave  a  concert  to  the  ladies  of  the 
court.  It  was,  as  has  been  since  ascertained,  during  this 
stay  of  the  Emperor  at  Munich  that  the  Emperor  Alex- 
ander and  the  King  „  of  Prussia  pledged  themselves  at 
Potsdam,  on  the  tomb  of  Frederick  the  Great,  to  unite 
their  efforts  against  his  Majesty. 

A  year  later  Napoleon  also  made  a  visit  to  the  tomb  of 
the  great  Frederick. 

The  taking  of  Ulm  had  finished  the  conquest  of  the 
Austrians,  and  opened  to  the  Emperor  the  gates  of  Vienna: 
but  meanwhile  the  Russians  were  advancing  by  forced 
marches  to  the  help  of  their  allies ;  his  Majesty  hastened  to 
meet  them,  and  the  1st  of  December  the  two  hostile  armies 
found  themselves  face  to  face.  By  one  of  those  happy  co- 
incidences made  only  for  the  Emperor,  the  day  of  the  battle 
of  Austerlitz  was  also  the  anniversary  of  the  coronation. 

I  do  not  remember  why  there  was  no  tent  for  the 
Emperor  at  Austerlitz ;  but  the  soldiers  made  a  kind  of 
barrack  of  limbs  of  trees,  with  an  opening  in  the  top  for  the 
passage  of  the  smoke.  His  Majesty,  though  he  had  only 
straw  for  his  bed,  was  so  exhausted  after  having  passed 
the  day  on  horseback  on  the  heights  of  Santon,  that  on 
the  eve  of  the  battle  he  was  sleeping  soundly,  when  Gen- 
eral Savary,  one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  entered,  to  give  an 


BATTLE  OF  AUSTERL1TZ.  393 

account  of  the  mission  with  which  he  had  been  charged ; 
and  the  general  was  obliged  to  touch  his  shoulder,  and 
shake  him,  in  order  to  rouse  him.  He  then  rose,  and 
mounted  his  horse  to  visit  his  advance  posts.  The  night 
was  dark;  but  the  whole  camp  was  lighted  up  as  if  by 
enchantment,  for  each  soldier  put  a  bundle  of  straw  on  the 
end  of  his  bayonet,  and  all  these  firebrands  were  kindled  in 
less  time  than  it  takes  to  describe  it.  The  Emperor  rode 
along  the  whole  line,  speaking  to  those  soldiers  whom  he 
recognized.  "Be  to-morrow  what  you  have  always  been, 
my  brave  fellows,"  said  he,  "and  the  Russians  are  ours; 
we  have  them!"  The  air  resounded  with  cries  of  Vive 
VEmpereur,  and  there  was  neither  officer  nor  soldier  who 
did  not  count  on  a  victory  next  day. 

His  Majesty,  on  visiting  the  line  of  battle,  where  there 
had  been  no  provisions  for  forty-eight  hours  (for  that  day 
there  had  been  distributed  only  one  loaf  of  ammunition 
bread  for  every  eight  men),  saw,  while  passing  from 
bivouac  to  bivouac,  soldiers  roasting  potatoes  in  the  ashes. 
Finding  himself  before  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the  line,  of 
which  his  brother  was  colonel,  the  Emperor  said  to  a 
grenadier  of  the  second  battalion,  as  he  took  from  the  fire 
and  ate  one  of  the  potatoes  of  the  squad,  "Are  you  satisfied 
with  these  pigeons?  "  —"Humph!  They  are  at  least  bet- 
ter than  nothing ;  though  they  are  very  much  like  Lenten 
food."  -  "  Well,  old  fellow,"  replied  his  Majesty  to  the 
soldier,  pointing  to  the  fires  of  the  enemy,  "  help  me  to  dis- 
lodge those  rascals  over  there,  and  we  will  have  a  Mardi 
Gras  at  Vienna." 

The  Emperor  returned  to  his  quarters,  went  to  bed  again, 
and  slept  until  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  while  his  suite 


394  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

collected  around  a  bivouac  fire  near  his  Majesty's  barracks, 
and  slept  on  the  ground,  wrapped  in  their  cloaks,  for  the 
night  was  extremely  cold.  For  four  days  I  had  not  closed 
my  eyes,  and  I  was  just  falling  asleep,  when  about  three 
o'clock  the  Emperor  asked  me  for  punch.  I  would  have 
given  the  whole  empire  of  Austria  to  have  rested  another 
hour;  but  notwithstanding  this,  I  carried  his  Majesty  the 
punch,  which  I  made  by  the  bivouac  fire,  and  the  Emperor 
insisted  that  Marshal  Berthier  should  also  partake  of  it ; 
the  remainder  I  divided  with  the  attendants.  Between 
four  and  five  o'clock  the  Emperor  ordered  the  first  move- 
ments of  his  army,  and  all  were  on  foot  in  a  few  moments, 
and  each  at  his  post;  aides-de-camp  and  orderly  officers 
were  seen  galloping  in  all  directions,  and  the  battle  was 
begun. 

I  will  not  enter  into  the  details  of  this  glorious  day, 
which,  according  to  the  expression  of  the  Emperor  himself, 
terminated  the  campaign  by  a  thunderbolt.  Not  one  of  the 
plans  of  the  Emperor  failed  in  execution,  and  in  a  few 
hours  the  French  were  masters  of  the  field  of  battle  and 
of  the  whole  of  Germany. 

The  brave  General  Rapp  was  wounded  at  Austerlitz,  as 
he  was  in  every  battle  in  which  he  took  part,  and  was 
carried  to  the  chateau  of  Austerlitz,  where  the  Emperor 
visited  him  in  the  evening,  and  returned  to  pass  the  night 
in  the  chateau. 

Two  days  after,  the  Emperor  Francis  sought  an  audience 
of  his  Majesty,  to  demand  peace ;  and  before  the  end  of 
December  a  treaty  was  concluded,  by  which,  the  Elector 
of  Bavaria  and  the  Duke  of  Wurtemburg,  faithful  allies  of 
the  Emperor  Napoleon,  were  made  kings.  In  return  for 


SCHOENBRUNN.  395 

this  elevation,  of  which  he  alone  was  the  author,  his  Majesty 
demanded  and  obtained  for  Prince  Eugene,  viceroy  of  Italy, 
the  hand  of  the  Princess  Augusta  Amelia  of  Bavaria. 

During  his  sojourn  at  Vienna,  the  Emperor  had  estab- 
lished his  headquarters  at  Schoenbrunn,  the  name  of  which 
has  become  celebrated  by  the  numerous  sojourns  of  his 
Majesty  there,  and  is  to-day,  by  a  singular  coincidence,  the 
residence  of  his  son.1 

I  am  not  certain  whether  it  was  during  this  first  sojourn 
at  Schoenbrunn  that  his  Majesty  had  the  extraordinary 
encounter  that  I  shall  now  relate.  His  Majesty,  in  the 
uniform  of  colonel  of  the  chasseurs  of  the  guard,  rode 
every  day  on  horseback,  and  one  morning,  while  on  the  road 
to  Vienna,  saw  approaching  a  clergyman,  accompanied  by  a 
woman  weeping  bitterly,  who  did  not  recognize  him.  Napo- 
leon approached  the  carriage,  and  inquired  the  cause  of  her 
grief,  and  the  object  and  end  of  her  journey.  "  Monsieur," 
replied  she,  "  I  live  at  a  village  two  leagues  from  here,  in 
a  house  which  has  been  pillaged  by  soldiers,  and  my  gardener 
has  been  killed.  I  am  now  on  my  way  to  demand  a  safe- 
guard from  your  Emperor,  who  knew  my  family  well,  and 
is  under  great  obligations  to  them."-  — "What  is  your  name, 
Madame  ?  "  —  "  De  Bunny.  I  am  the  daughter  of  Monsieur 
de  Marbeuf,  former  governor  of  Corsica."  —  "  I  am  charmed, 
Madame,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  to  find  an  opportunity  of  serv- 
ing you.  I  am  the  Emperor."  Madame  de  Bunny  remained 
speechless  with  astonishment ;  but  Napoleon  reassured  her, 
and  continuing  his  route,  requested  her  to  go  on  and  await 
him  at  his  headquarters.  On  his  return  he  received  her, 

1  The  Duke  do  Reichstadt,  born  King  of  Rome,  died  July,  1832,  soon 
after  Constant  wrote.  —  TRANS. 


396  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

and  treated  her  with  remarkable  kindness,  gave  her  an 
escort  of  the  chasseurs  of  the  guard,  and  dismissed  her 
happy  and  satisfied. 

As  soon  as  the  day  of  Austerlitz  was  gained,  the  Em- 
peror hastened  to  send  the  courier  Moustache  to  France 
to  announce  the  news  to  the  Empress,  who  was  then  at  the 
chateau  of  Saint-Cloud.  It  was  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening 
when  loud  cries  of  joy  were  suddenly  heard,  and  the  gallop- 
ing of  a  horse  at  full  speed,  accompanied  by  the  sound  of 
bells,  and  repeated  blows  of  the  whip  which  announced  a 
courier.  The  Empress,  who  was  awaiting  with  the  greatest 
impatience  news  from  the  army,  rushed  to  the  window, 
opened  it  hurriedly,  and  the  words  victory  and  Austerlitz 
fell  on  her  ears.  Eager  to  know  the  details,  she  ran  down 
the  steps,  followed  by  her  ladies ;  and  Moustache  in  the 
most  excited  manner  related  the  marvelous  news,  and 
handed  her  Majesty  the  Emperor's  letter,  which  Josephine 
read,  and  then  drawing  a  handsome  diamond  ring  from 
her  finger,  gave  it  to  the  courier.  Poor  Moustache  had 
galloped  more  than  fifty  leagues1  that  day,  and  was  so 
exhausted  that  he  had  to  be  lifted  from  his  horse  and 
placed  in  bed,  wliich  it  required  four  persons  to  accomplish. 
His  last  horse,  which  he  had  doubtless  spared  less  than 
the  others,  fell  dead  in  the  court  of  the  chateau. 

1 150  miles.  —  TRANS. 


RETURN    TO  PARIS.  397 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

The  Emperor  returns  to  Paris.  —  Adventure  while  ascending  the  hill  of 
Meaux.  —  A  young  girl  throws  herself  into  the  Emperor's  carriage.  — 
Rude  welcome,  and  pardon  refused.  —  I  recognize  Mademoiselle 
Lajolais.  —  General  Lajolais  twice  accused  of  conspiracy.  —  Arrest  of  his 
wife  and  daughter.  —  Excessive  severity  towards  Madame  Lajolais. — 
Extraordinary  fortitude  of  Mademoiselle  Lajolais.  —  She  goes  alone  to 
Saint-Cloud,  and  applies  to  me.  —  I  lay  her  petition  before  her  Majesty 
the  Empress.  —  Fears  of  Josephine.  —  Josephine  and  Hortense  have  Ma- 
demoiselle Lajolais  placed  in  the  way  of  his  Majesty  the  Emperor.  — 
Attentions  and  kindness  of  the  two  princesses.  — Unshaken  constancy  of 
a  child. — Mademoiselle  Lajolais  in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor. — 
Heartrending  scene.  —  Harshness  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  pardon  forced.  — 
She  faints.  —  Attentions  paid  Mademoiselle  Lajolais  by  the  Emperor. 
—  Generals  Wolff  and  Lavalette  escort  her  to  her  father.  —  Interview 
between  General  Lajolais  and  his  daughter.  —  Mile.  Lajolais  also  obtains 
her  mother's  pardon.  —  She  joins  the  Breton  ladies  in  soliciting  the 
pardon  of  the  companions  of  Georges.  —  Execution  delayed.  —  Fruitless 
efforts.  —  Warning  from  the  author.  —  Young  Destrem  asks  and  obtains 
the  pardon  of  his  father.  —  A  useless  pardon.  —  The  Emperor  passes  by 
Saint-Cloud  on  his  return  from  Austerlitz.  —  Monsieur  Barre,  Mayor  of 
Saint-Cloud.  —  The  arch  barred  and  the  most  somnolent  of  the  com- 
munes. —  Prince  Talleyrand  and  the  beds  of  Saints-Cloud.  —  Singular 
caprice  of  the  Emperor.  —  Small  revolution  at  the  chateau.  —  Manias  of 
sovereigns  are  epidemic. 

THE  Emperor  having  left  Stuttgard,  stopped  only 
twenty-four  hours  at  Carlsruhe,  and  forty-eight  hours  at 
Strasburg,  and  between  that  place  and  Paris  made  only 
short  halts,  without  manifesting  his  customary  haste,  how- 
ever, or  requiring  of  the  postilions  the  break-neck  speed  he 
usually  demanded. 

As  we  were  ascending  the  hill  of  Meaux,  and  while 
the  Emperor  was  so  engrossed  in  reading  a  book  that  he 


398  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

paid  no  attention  to  what  was  passing  on  the  road,  a  young 
girl  threw  herself  against  the  door  of  his  Majesty's  carriage, 
and  clung  there  in  spite  of  the  efforts  to  remove  her,  not 
very  vigorous  in  truth,  made  by  the  cavaliers  of  the  escort. 
At  last  she  succeeded  in  opening  the  door,  and  threw  her- 
self at  the  Emperor's  feet.  The  Emperor,  much  surprised, 
exclaimed,  "What  the  devil  does  this  foolish  creature 
want  with  me?"  Then  recognizing  the  young  lady,  after 
having  scrutinized  her  features  more  closely,  he  added 
in  very  evident  anger,  "Ah,  is  it  you  again?  will  you 
never  let  me  alone  ? "  The  young  girl,  without  being 
intimidated  by  this  rude  welcome,  said  through  her  sobs 
that  the  only  favor  she  now  came  to  ask  for  her  father 
was  that  his  prison  might  be  changed,  and  that  he  might 
be  removed  from  the  Chateau  d'lf,1  the  dampness  of  which 
was  ruining  his  health,  to  the  citadel  of  Strasburg.  "  No, 
no,"  cried  the  Emperor,  "don't  count  on  that.  I  have 
many  other  things  to  do  beside  receiving  visits  from  you. 
If  I  granted  you  this  demand,  in  eight  days  you  would 
think  of  something  else  you  wished."  The  poor  girl  in- 
sisted, with  a  firmness  worthy  of  better  success ;  but  the 
Emperor  was  inflexible,  and  on  arriving  at  the  top  of  the 
hill  he  said  to  her,  "  I  hope  you  will  now  alight  and  let  me 
proceed  on  my  journey.  I  regret  it  exceedingly,  but  what 
you  demand  of  me  is  impossible."  And  he  thus  dismissed 
her,  refusing  to  listen  longer. 

While  tliis  was  occurring  I  was  ascending  the  hill  on 
foot,  a  few  paces  from  his  Majesty's  carriage ;  and  when 
this  disagreeable  scene  was  over,  the  young  lady,  being 

1  Chateau  d'lf  is  on  the  coast  near  Marseilles.    It  figures  in  Dumas' 
Monte  Cristo.  —  TKANS. 


MADEMOISELLE  LAJOLAIS.  399 

forced  to  leave  without  having  obtained  what  she  desired, 
passed  on  before  me  sobbing,  and  I  recognized  Mademoiselle 
Lajolais,  whom  I  had  already  seen  in  similar  circumstances, 
but  where  her  courageous  devotion  to  her  parents  had  met 
with  better  success. 

General  Lajolais  had  been  arrested,  as  well  as  all  his 
family,  on  the  18th  Fructidor.1  After  being  confined  for 
twenty-eight  montlis,  he  had  been  tried  at  Strasburg  by 
a  council  of  war,  held  by  order  of  the  First  Consul,  and 
acquitted  unanimously. 

Later,  when  the  conspiracy  of  Generals  Pichegru, 
Moreau,  George  Cadoudal,2  and  of  Messieurs  de  Polignac,3 
de  Riviere,4  etc.,  were  discovered,  General  Lajolais,  who 
was  also  concerned  therein,  was  condemned  to  death.  His 
daughter  and  his  wife  were  transferred  from  Strasburg  to 
Paris  by  the  police,  and  Madame  Lajolais  was  placed  in 
the  most  rigorous  close  confinement,  while  her  daughter, 
now  separated  from  her,  took  refuge  with  friends  of  her 

1  The  Coup  d'Etat  to  prevent  a  Bourbon  counter-revolution,  Sept.  4, 
1797. —TRANS. 

2  George  Cadoudal,  a  famous  royalist,  born  in  Brittany,  1769,  fought  in 
the  Vendean  war,  1793,  was  a  Chouan  chief,  and  defeated  by  Hoche,  1795  and 
1796.    Ho  refused  Bonaparte's  offers  in  1800,  and  in  1803  entered  into  a  con- 
spiracy against  him.    Having  ventured  to  Paris  in  1804,  he  was  taken,  tried, 
and  executed.  — TRANS. 

3  August  Jules  Armand,  Prince  do  Polignac,  born  at  Versailles,  1780. 
His  father  was  minister  of  state  and  his  mother  a  favorite  of  Marie  Antoi- 
nette.   Ho  was  prime  minister  in  1830,  and  greatly  contributed,  by  his  want 
of  perception  of  popular  feeling,  to  the  final  downfall  of  the  elder  branch  of 
the  Bourbons.    Was  imprisoned  till  1836,  when,  being  released,  he  retired  to 
England  and  died  there,  1847.  —  TRANS. 

4  Charles  Francis,  Due  de  Riviere,  born  at  Ferte  sur  Cher,  1763.    Was 
condemned  to  death  for  his  share  in  Pichegru's  conspiracy,  1804,  but  his  life 
was  saved  by  the  Empress  Josephine ;  died  1828.  —TRANS.    Notes  on  Pichegru 
and  Moreau,  ante. 


400  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

family.  It  was  then  that  this  young  person,  barely  fourteen 
years  old,  displayed  a  courage  and  strength  of  character 
unusual  at  her  age ;  and  on  learning  that  her  father  was 
condemned  to  death,  she  set  out  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  without  confiding  her  resolution  to  any  one,  alone, 
on  foot,  and  without  a  guide,  with  no  one  to  introduce 
her,  and  presented  herself  weeping  at  the  chateau  of 
Saint-Cloud,  where  the  Emperor  then  was. 

She  succeeded  in  gaining  an  entrance  into  the  chateau 
only  after  much  opposition ;  but  not  allowing  herself  to  be 
rebuffed  by  any  obstacle,  she  finally  presented  herself  be- 
fore me,  saying,  "Monsieur,  I  have  been  promised  that 
you  would  conduct  me  instantly  to  the  Emperor  "  (I  do 
not  know  who  had  told  her  this).  "  I  ask  of  you  only  this 
favor ;  do  not  refuse  it,  I  beg ! "  and  moved  by  her  confi- 
dence and  her  despair,  I  went  to  inform  her  Majesty  the 
Empress. 

She  was  deeply  touched  by  the  resolution  and  the  tears 
of  one  so  young,  but  did  not  dare,  nevertheless,  to  promise 
her  support  at  once,  for  fear  of  awakening  the  anger  of 
the  Emperor,  who  was  very  much  incensed  against  those 
who  were  concerned  in  this  conspiracy,  and  ordered  me  to 
say  to  the  young  daughter  of  Lajolais  that  she  was  grieved 
to  be  able  to  do  nothing  for  her  just  then;  but  that  she 
might  return  to  Saint-Cloud  the  next  day  at  five  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  meanwhile  she  and  Queen  Hortense 
would  consult  together  as  to  the  best  means  of  placing  her 
in  the  Emperor's  way.  The  young  girl  returned  next  day 
at  the  appointed  hour ;  and  her  Majesty  the  Empress  had 
her  stationed  in  the  green  saloon,  and  there  she  awaited 
ten  hours,  the  moment  when  the  Emperor,  coming  out  from 


MADEMOISELLE  LAJOLAIS.  401 

the  council-chamber,  would  cross  this  room  to  enter  his 
cabinet. 

The  Empress  and  her  august  daughter  gave  orders  that 
breakfast,  and  then  dinner,  should  be  served  to  her,  and 
came  in  person  to  beg  her  to  take  some  nourishment;  but 
their  entreaties  were  all  in  vain,  for  the  poor  girl  had  no 
other  thought,  no  other  desire,  than  that  of  obtaining  her 
father's  life.  At  last,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
Emperor  appeared ;  and  a  sign  being  made  to  Mademoiselle 
Lajolais  by  which  she  could  designate  the  Emperor,  who 
was  surrounded  by  several  councilors  of  state  and  officers 
of  his  household,  she  sprang  towards  him ;  and  there  fol- 
lowed a  touching  scene,  which  lasted  a  long  while.  The 
young  girl,  prostrating  herself  at  the  feet  of  the  Emperor, 
supplicated  him  with  clasped  hands,  and  in  the  most  touch- 
ing terms,  to  grant  her  father's  pardon.  The  Emperor  at 
first  repulsed  her,  and  said  in  a  tone  of  great  severity, 
"Your  father  is  a  traitor;  this  is  the  second  time  he  has 
committed  a  crime  against  the  state ;  I  can  grant  you 
nothing."  Mademoiselle  Lajolais  replied  to  this  outburst 
of  the  Emperor,  "The  first  time  my  father  was  tried  and 
found  innocent ;  this  time  it  is  his  pardon  I  implore ! " 
Finally  the  Emperor,  conquered  by  so  much  courage  and 
devotion,  and  a  little  fatigued  besides  by  an  interview 
which  the  perseverance  of  the  young  girl  would  doubtless 
have  prolonged  indefinitely,  yielded  to  her  prayers,  and  the 
life  of  General  Lajolais J  was  spared. 

Exhausted  by  fatigue  and  hunger,  the  daughter  fell  un- 

1  It  is  well  known  that  the  sentence  of  General  Lajolais  was  commuted 
to  four  years  detention  in  a  prison  of  state,  that  his  property  was  confis- 
cated and  sold,  and  that  ho  died  in  the  Chateau  d'lf  much  beyond  the  time 
set  for  the  expiration  of  his  captivity.  —  Note  by  CONSTANT. 


402  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

conscious  at  the  Emperor's  feet ;  he  himself  raised  her,  gave 
her  every  attention,  and  presenting  her  to  the  persons  who 
witnessed  this  scene,  praised  her  filial  piety  in  unmeasured 
terms. 

His  Majesty  at  once  gave  orders  that  she  should  be 
reconducted  to  Paris,  and  several  superior  officers  disputed 
with  each  other  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  her.  Gen- 
erals Wolff,  aide-de-camp  of  Prince  Louis,  and  Lavalette  l 
were  charged  with  this  duty,  and  conducted  her  to  the  con- 
ciergerie  where  her  father  was  confined.  On  entering  his 
cell,  she  threw  herself  on  his  neck  and  tried  to  tell  him  of 
the  pardon  she  had  just  obtained ;  but  overcome  by  so  many 
emotions,  she  was  unable  to  utter  a  word,  and  it  was  Gen- 
eral Lavalette  who  announced  to  the  prisoner  what  he  owed 
to  the  brave  persistence  of  his  daughter.  The  next  day 
she  obtained,  through  the  favor  of  the  Empress  Josephine, 
the  liberty  of  her  mother,  who  was  to  have  been  trans- 
ported. 

Having  obtained  the  life  of  her  father  and  the  liberty 
of  her  mother,  as  I  have  just  related,  she  still  further 
exerted  herself  to  save  their  companions  in  misfortune,  who 
had  been  condemned  to  death,  and  for  this  purpose  joined 
the  ladies  of  Brittany,  who  had  been  led  to  seek  her  co- 
operation by  the  success  of  her  former  petitions,  and  went 
with  them  to  Malmaison  to  beg  these  additional  pardons. 

These  ladies  had  succeeded  in  getting  the  execution  of 

1  Mario  Cbamans,  Count  de  Lavalette,  was  born  in  Paris,  17G9.  Entered 
the  army  1792,  made  Captain  at  Arcola  1796,  and  served  in  Egyptian  cam- 
paign. Married  Emilie  de  Beauhamais,  a  niece  of  Josephine.  Postmaster- 
general,  1800-1814.  Condemned  to  death  during  the  Hundred  Days,  he  escaped 
from  prison  in  his  wife's  dress.  His  wife  was  tried,  but  became  insane  from 
excitement.  He  was  pardoned  1822,  and  died  1830,  leaving  two  volumes  of 
Memoirs.  —  TRANS 


MADEMOISELLE  LAJOLAIS.  403 

the  condemned  delayed  for  two  hours,  with  the  hope  that 
the  Empress  Josephine  would  be  able  to  influence  the 
Emperor;  but  he  remained  inflexible,  and  their  generous 
attempt  met  with  no  success,  whereupon  Mademoiselle  La- 
jolais  returned  to  Paris,  much  grieved  that  she  had  not 
been  able  to  snatch  a  few  more  unfortunates  from  the  rigor 
of  the  law. 

I  have  already  said  two  things  which  I  am  compelled  to 
repeat  here :  the  first  is,  that,  not  feeling  obliged  to  relate 
events  in  their  chronological  order,  I  shall  narrate  them 
as  they  present  themselves  to  my  memory;  the  second  is, 
that  I  deem  it  both  an  obligation  and  a  duty  which  I  owe 
to  the  Emperor  to  relate  every  event  which  may  serve  to 
make  his  true  character  better  known,  and  which  has  been 
omitted,  whether  involuntarily  or  by  design,  by  those  who 
have  written  his  life.  I  care  little  if  I  am  accused  of 
monotony  on  this  subject,  or  of  writing  only  a  panegyric; 
but,  if  this  should  be  done,  I  would  reply :  So  much  the 
worse  for  him  who  grows  weary  of  the  recital  of  good 
deeds !  I  have  undertaken  to  tell  the  truth  concerning  the 
Emperor,  be  it  good  or  bad ;  and  every  reader  who  expects 
to  find  in  my  memoirs  of  the  Emperor  only  evil,  as  well 
as  he  who  expects  to  find  only  good,  will  be  wise  to  go  no 
farther,  for  I  have  firmly  resolved  to  relate  all  that  I  know ; 
and  it  is  not  my  fault  if  the  kind  acts  performed  by  the 
Emperor  are  so  numerous  that  my  recitals  should  often 
turn  to  praises. 

I  thought  it  best  to  make  these  short  observations  before 
giving  an  account  of  another  pardon  granted  by  his  Maj- 
esty at  the  time  of  the  coronation,  and  which  the  story  of 
Mademoiselle  Lajolais  has  recalled  to  my  recollection. 


404  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

On  the  day  of  the  last  distribution  of  the  decoration  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor  in  the  Church  of  the  Invalides,  as  the 
Emperor  was  about  to  retire  at  the  conclusion  of  this  im- 
posing ceremony,  a  very  young  man  threw  himself  on  his 
knees  on  the  steps  of  the  throne,  crying  out,  "  Pardon,  par- 
don for  my  father."  His  Majesty,  touched  by  his  interest- 
ing countenance  and  deep  emotion,  approached  him  and 
attempted  to  raise  him;  but  the  young  man  still  retained 
his  beseeching  posture,  repeating  his  demand  in  moving 
tones.  "What  is  your  father's  name?"  demanded  the 
Emperor.  "Sire,"  replied  the  young  man,  hardly  able  to 
make  himself  heard,  "it  is  well  known,  and  has  been 
only  too  often  calumniated  by  the  enemies  of  my  father 
before  your  Majesty;  but  I  swear  that  he  is  innocent.  I 
am  the  son  of  Hugues  Destrem."  -  —  "  Your  father,  sir,  is 
gravely  compromised  by  his  connection  with  incorrigible 
revolutionists  ;  but  I  will  consider  your  application.  Mon- 
sieur Destrem  is  happy  in  having  so  devoted  a  son."  .The 
Emperor  added  a  few  consoling  words,  and  the  young  man 
retired  with  the  certainty  that  his  father  would  be  par- 
doned; but  unfortunately  this  pardon  which  was  granted 
by  the  Emperor  came  too  late,  and  Hugues  Destrem, 
who  had  been  transported  to  the  Island  of  Oleron  after 
the  attempt  of  the  3d  Nivose,1  in  which  he  had  taken  no 
part,  died  in  his  exile  before  he  bad  even  learned  that 
the  solicitations  of  his  son  had  met  with  such  complete 
success. 

On  our  return  from  the  glorious  campaign  of  Austerlitz, 
the  commune  of  Saint-Cloud,  so  favored  by  the  sojourn  of 
the  court,  had  decided  that  it  would  distinguish  itself  on 

1  Tho  affair  of  the  iuferual  machine  hi  tlio  Rue  Sainto  Nicaise.  — TRANS. 


FETE  AT  SAINT-CLOUD.  405 

this  occasion,  and  take  the  opportunity  of  manifesting  its 
great  affection  for  the  Emperor. 

The  mayor  of  Saint-Cloud  was  Monsieur  Barre,  a  well- 
informed  man,  with  a  very  kind  heart.  Napoleon  esteemed 
him  highly,  and  took  much  pleasure  in  his  conversation, 
and  he  was  sincerely  regretted  by  his  subordinates  when 
death  removed  him. 

M.  Barre  had  erected  an  arch  of  triumph,  of  simple  but 
noble  design,  in  excellent  taste,  at  the  foot  of  the  avenue 
leading  to  the  palace,  which  was  adorned  with  the  following 
inscription :  - 

"  TO    HEK  BELOVED  SOVEREIGN  ; 
THE    MOST    FOBTUNATE   OF   THE   COMMUNES." 

The  evening  on  which  the  Emperor  was  expected,  the 
mayor  and  his  associates,  armed  with  the  necessary  ha- 
rangue, passed  a  part  of  the  night  at  the  foot  of  the  monu- 
ment. M.  Barre,  who  was  old  and  feeble,  then  retired, 
after  having  placed  as  sentinel  one  of  his  associates,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  inform  him  of  the  arrival  of  the  first  cou- 
rier; and  a  ladder  was  placed  across  the  entrance  of  the 
arch  of  triumph,  so  that  no  one  might  pass  under  it  before 
liis  Majesty.  Unfortunately,  the  municipal  argus  went  to 
sleep ;  and  the  Emperor  arrived  in  the  early  morning,  and 
passed  by  the  side  of  the  arch  of  triumph,  much  amused 
at  the  obstacle  which  prevented  his  enjoying  the  distin- 
guished honor  which  the  good  inhabitants  of  SainkCloud 
had  prepared  for  him. 

On  the  day  succeeding  this  event,  a  little  drawing  was 
circulated  in  the  palace  representing  the  authorities  asleep 
near  the  monument,  a  prominent  place  being  accorded  the 


406  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ladder,  which  barred  the  passage,  and  underneath  was 
written  the  arch  barre,  alluding  to  the  name  of  the  mayor. 
As  for  the  inscription,  they  had  travestied  it  in  this 
manner :  — 

"TO   HER  BELOVED   SOVEREIGN; 
THE   SLEEPIEST   OF  THE   COMMUNES." 

Their  Majesties  were  much  amused  by  this  episode. 

While  the  court  was  at  Saint-Cloud,  the  Emperor,  who 
had  worked  very  late  one  evening  with  Monsieur  de  Talley- 
rand, invited  the  latter  to  sleep  at  the  chateau;  but  the 
prince,  who  preferred  returning  to  Paris,  refused,  giving 
as  an  excuse  that  the  beds  had  a  very  disagreeable  odor. 
There  was  no  truth  whatever  in  this  statement,  for  there 
was,  as  may  be  believed,  the  greatest  care  taken  of  the 
furniture,  even  in  the  store-rooms  of  the  different  imperial 
palaces;  and  the  reason  assigned  by  M.  de  Talleyrand  being 
given  at  random,  he  could  just  as  well  have  given  any 
other;  but,  nevertheless,  the  remark  struck  the  Emperor's 
attention,  and  that  evening  on  entering  his  bedroom  he 
complained  that  his  bed  had  an  unpleasant  odor.  I  as- 
sured him  to  the  contrary,  and  told  his  Majesty  that  he 
would  next  day  be  convinced  of  his  error ;  but,  far  from 
being  persuaded,  the  Emperor,  when  he  rose  next  morning, 
repeated  the  assertion  that  his  bed  had  a  very  disagreeable 
odor,  and  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  change  it. 
M.  Charvet,  concierge  of  the  palace,  was  at  once  summoned ; 
his  Majesty  complained  of  his  bed,  and  ordered  another  to 
be  brought. 

M.  Desmasis,  keeper  of  the  furniture-room,  was  also 
called,  who  examined  mattress,  feather-beds,  and  covering, 
turned  and  returned  them  in  every  direction ;  other  persons 


THE  BEDS  AT  SAINT-CLOUD.  407 

did  the  same,  and  each  was  convinced  that  there  was 
no  odor  about  his  Majesty's  bed.  In  spite  of  so  many  wit- 
nesses to  the  contrary,  the  Emperor,  not  because  he  made  it 
a  point  of  honor  not  to  have  what  he  had  asserted  proved 
false,  but  merely  from  a  caprice  to  which  he  was  very  sub- 
ject, persisted  in  his  first  idea,  and  required  his  bed  to  be 
changed.  Seeing  that  it  was  necessary  to  obey,  I  sent  this 
bed  to  the  Tuileries,  and  had  the  one  which  was  there 
brought  to  the  chateau  of  Saint-Cloud.  The  Emperor  was 
now  satisfied,  and,  on  his  return  to  the  Tuileries,  did  not 
notice  the  exchange,  and  thought  his  bed  in  that  chateau 
very  good ;  and  the  most  amusing  part  of  all  was  that  the 
ladies  of  the  palace,  having  learned  that  the  Emperor  had 
complained  of  his  bed,  all  found  an  unbearable  odor  in 
theirs,  and  insisted  that  everything  must  be  overhauled, 
which  created  a  small  revolution.  The  caprices  of  sov- 
ereigns are  sometimes  epidemic. 


408  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

Secret  liaisons  of  the  Emperor.  —  What  was,  in  the  Emperor's  opinion,  the 
conduct  of  a  moral  man.  —  What  Napoleon  understood  by  immorality. 
—  Temptations  of  sovereigns.  —  Discretion  of  the  Emperor.  —  Jealousy 
of  Josephine. — Madame  Gazani. — Rendezvous  in  Bourrienne's  former 
apartment.  —  The  Emperor  tete-a-tete  with  a  minister.  —  Suspicions  and 
agitation  of  the  Empress. — My  duty  forces  me  to  lie. —  The  Empress 
telling  to  my  cost  a  falsehood  in  order  to  learn  the  truth.  —  Jocose  repri- 
mand addressed  on  my  account  by  the  Emperor  to  the  Empress.  —  I  am 
justified.  —  Temporary  sulking. — Duration  of  the  liaison  of  the  Em- 
peror with  Madame  Gazani.  —  Madame  de  Remusat,  lady  of  honor  of 
the  Empress.  —  Nocturnal  expedition  of  Josephine  and  Madame  de 
Remusat.  —  Formidable  snoring.  —  Panic  terror  and  precipitate  flight.  — 
Tears  and  mad  laughter.  —  The  allee  des  Veuves.  —The  Emperor's  suc- 
cess with  women.  —  Prince  Murat  and  I  await  him  at  the  door  of . 

— Anxiety  of  Murat. — Imperial  speech  of  Napoleon.  —  The  official 
purveyors.  —  I  am  solicited  by  certain  ladies.  — My  repugnance  to  secret 
undertakings.  —  Former  duties  of  the  first  valet  not  all  restored  by 
the  Emperor.  —  Complaisance  of  a  general.  —  Refusal  of  a  lady  after 
her  marriage. — Mademoiselle  .E ,  reader  to  Princess  Murat.  —  De- 
scription of  Mademoiselle  E .  —  Intrigue  against  the  Empress.  — 

Interviews  at  the  Tuileries,  and  what  was  the  result.  —  Birth  of  an 
Imperial  child.  —  Education  of  this  child.  —  Mademoiselle  E— -  at 
Fontainebleau.  —  Displeasure  of  the  Emperor.  —  Harshness  towards  the 
mother,  and  tenderness  to  the  son.  —  The  three  sons  of  Napoleon.  — 
Distractions  of  the  Emperor  a*  Boulogne.  —  The  beautiful  Italian.  — 
Discovery  and  proposition  of  Murat. — Mademoiselle  L.  B.  —  Shameful 
speculation. — The  ballet  dance.  —  Sallow  complexion.  —  Ogling  to  no  pur- 
pose.—  Visit  to  Mademoiselle  Le  Normand.  — Silence  of  Mademoiselle 
L.  B.  as  to  the  predictions  of  the  fortune-teller.  —  Credulity  justified  by 
the  occurrence  of  the  predicted  event.  —  Trifles. 

His  Majesty  was  accustomed  to  say  that  one  could 
always  tell  an  honorable  man  by  his  conduct  to  his  wife, 
his  children,  and  his  servants ;  and  I  hope  it  will  appear 
from  these  memoirs  that  the  Emperor  conducted  himself  as 


THE  EMPEROR'S   VIEWS  ON  MOllALlTY.  409 

an  honorable  man,  according  to  his  own  definition.  He  said, 
moreover,  that  immorality  was  the  most  dangerous  vice  of  a 
sovereign,  because  of  the  evil  example  it  set  to  his  subjects. 
What  he  meant  by  immorality  was  doubtless  a  scandal- 
ous publicity  given  to  liaisons  which  might  otherwise  have 
remained  secret;  for,  as  regards  these  liaisons  themselves, 
he  withstood  women  no  more  than  any  other  man  when 
they  threw  themselves  at  his  head.  Perhaps  another  man, 
surrounded  by  seductions,  attacks,  and  advances  of  all 
kinds,  would  have  resisted  these  temptations  still  less. 
Nevertheless,  please  God,  I  do  not  propose  to  defend  his 
Majesty  in  this  respect.  I  will  even  admit,  if  you  wish, 
that  his  conduct  did  not  offer  an  example  in  the  most 
perfect  accord  with  the  morality  of  his  discourses  ;  but 
it  must  be  admitted  also  that  it  was  somewhat  to  the  credit 
of  a  sovereign  that  he  concealed,  with  the  most  scrupulous 
care,  his  frailties  from  the  public,  lest  they  should  be  a  sub- 
ject of  scandal,  or,  what  is  worse,  of  imitation ;  and  from  his 
wife,  to  whom  it  would  have  been  a  source  of  the  deepest 
grief. 

On  this  delicate  subject  I  recall  two  or  three  occur- 
rences which  took  place,  I  think,  about  the  period  which 
my  narrative  has  now  reached. 

The  Empress  Josephine  was  jealous,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  prudence  which  the  Emperor  exercised  in  his  secret 
liaisons,  could  not  remain  in  entire  ignorance  of  what  was 
passing. 

The  Emperor  had  known  at  Genoa  Madame  Gazani, 
the  daughter  of  an  Italian  dancer,  whom  he  continued  to 
receive  at  Paris ;  and  one  day,  having  an  appointment  with 
her  in  his  private  apartments,  ordered  me  to  remain  in 


410  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  room,  and  to  reply  to  whoever  asked  for  him,  even 
if  it  was  her  Majesty  the  Empress  herself,  that  he  was 
engaged  in  his  cabinet  with  a  minister. 

The  place  of  the  interview  was  the  apartment  formerly 
occupied  by  Bourrienne,  communicating  by  a  staircase 
which  opened  on  his  Majesty's  bedroom.  This  room  had 
been  arranged  and  decorated  very  plainly,  and  had  a  second 
exit  on  the  staircase  called  the  black  staircase,  because  it 
was  dark  and  badly  lighted,  and  it  was  through  this  that 
Madame  Gazani  entered,  while  the  Emperor  came  in  by 
the  other  door.  They  had  been  together  only  a  few  mo- 
ments when  the  Empress  entered  the  Emperor's  room,  and 
asked  me  what  her  husband  was  doing.  "Madame,  the 
Emperor  is  very  busy  just  now;  he  is  working  in  his 
cabinet  with  a  minister."  -  —  "  Constant,  I  wish  to  enter." 
"That  is  impossible,  Madame.  I  have  received  a  formal 
order  not  to  disturb  his  Majesty,  not  even  for  her  Majesty 
the  Empress;"  whereupon  she  went  away  dissatisfied  and 
somewhat  irritated,  and  at  the  end  of  half  an  hour  re- 
turned ;  and,  renewing  her  demand,  I  was  obliged  to  repeat 
my  reply,  and,  though  much  distressed  in  witnessing  the 
chagrin  of  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  I  could  not  disobey  my 
orders.  That  evening  on  retiring  the  Emperor  said  to  me, 
in  a  very  severe  tone,  that  the  Empress  had  informed  liim 
she  had  learned  from  me,  that,  at  the  time  she  came  to 
question  me  in  regard  to  him,  he  was  closeted  with  a  lady. 
Not  at  all  disturbed,  I  replied  to  the  Emperor,  that  of 
course  he  could  not  believe  that.  "  No,"  replied  the 
Emperor,  returning  to  the  friendly  tone  with  which  he 
habitually  honored  me,  "I  know  you  well  enough  to  be 
assured  of  your  discretion ;  but  woe  to  the  idiots  who  are 


MADAME  GAZANL  411 

gossiping,  if  I  can  get  hold  of  them."  The  next  night  the 
Empress  entered,  as  the  Emperor  was  retiring,  and  his 
Majesty  said  to  her  in  my  presence,  "  It  is  very  bad  to  im- 
pute falsehood  to  poor  Monsieur  Constant;  he  is  not  the 
man  to  make  up  such  a  tale  as  that  you  told  me."  The 
Empress,  seated  on  the  edge  of  the  bed,  began  to  laugh, 
and  put  her  pretty  little  hand  over  her  husband's  mouth ; 
and,  as  it  was  a  matter  concerning  myself,  I  withdrew.  For 
a  few  days  the  Empress  was  cool  and  distant  to  me ;  but,  as 
this  was  foreign  to  her  nature,  she  soon  resumed  the  gra- 
cious manner  which  attached  all  hearts  to  her. 

The  Emperor's  liaison  with  Madame  Gazani  lasted 
nearly  a  year,  but  they  met  only  at  long  intervals. 

The  following  instance  of  jealousy  is  not  as  personal  to 
me  as  that  which  I  have  just  related. 

Madame  de  Remusat,1  wife  of  one  of  the  prefects  of  the 
palace,  and  one  of  the  ladies  of  honor  to  whom  the  Em- 
press was  most  attached,  found  her  one  evening  in  tears 
and  despair,  and  waited  in  silence  till  her  Majesty  should 
condescend  to  tellher  the  cause  of  this  deep  trouble.  She 
had  not  long  to  wait,  however ;  for  hardly  had  she  entered 
the  apartment  than  her  Majesty  exclaimed,  "  I  am  sure 
that  he  is  now  with  some  woman.  My  dear  friend,"  added 
she,  continuing  to  weep,  "take  this  candle  and  let  us  go 
and  listen  at  his  door.  We  will  hear  much."  Madame  de 
Remusat  did  all  in  her  power  to  dissuade  her  from  this 
project,  representing  to  her  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  the 
darkness  of  the  passage,  and  the  danger  they  would  run 
of  being  surprised;  but  all  in  vain,  her  Majesty  put  the 

1  Authoress  of  the  well-known  Memoirs.  Born  in  Paris,  1780,  died  1821. 
Her  husband  was  first  chamberlain  to  the  Emperor.  — TRANS. 


412  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

candle  in  her  hand,  saying,  "  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that 
you  should  go  with  me,  but,  if  you  are  afraid,  I  will  go  in 
front."  Madame  de  Remusat  obeyed ;  and  behold  the  two 
ladies  advancing  on  their  tiptoes  along  the  corridor,  by 
the  light  of  a  single  candle  flickering  in  the  air.  Having 
reached  the  door  of  the  Emperor's  antechamber,  they 
stopped,  hardly  daring  to  breathe,  and  the  Empress  softly 
turned  the  knob;  but,  just  as  she  put  her  foot  into  the 
apartment,  Roustan,  who  slept  there  and  was  then  sleeping 
soundly,  gave  a  formidable  and  prolonged  snore.  These 
ladies  had  not  apparently  remembered  that  they  would 
find  him  there ;  and  Madame  de  Remusat,  imagining  that 
she  already  saw  him  leaping  out  of  bed  saber  and  pistol  in 
hand,  turned  and  ran  as  fast  as  she  could,  still  holding  the 
candle  in  her  hand,  and  leaving  the  Empress  in  complete 
darkness,  and  did  not  stop  to  take  breath  until  she  reached 
the  Enipress's  bedroom,  when  she  remembered  that  the 
latter  had  been  left  in  the  corridor  with  no  light.  Madame 
de  Remusat  went  back  to  meet  her,  and  saw  her  returning, 
holding  her  sides  with  laughter,  and  forgetting  her  chagrin 
in  the  amusement  caused  by  this  adventure.  Madame  de 
Remusat  attempted  to  excuse  herself.  "  My  dear  friend," 
said  her  Majesty,  "you  only  anticipated  me,  for  that  pig- 
headed Roustan  frightened  me  so  that  I  should  have  run 
first,  if  you  had  not  been  a  greater  coward  than  I." 

I  do  not  know  what  these  ladies  would  have  discovered 
if  their  courage  had  not  failed  them  before  reaching  the 
end  of  their  expedition,  but  probably  nothing  at  all,  for  the 
Emperor  rarely  received  at  the  Tuileries  any  one  for 
whom  he  had  a  temporary  fancy.  I  have  already  stated 
that,  under  the  consulate,  he  had  his  meetings  in  a  small 


PRINCE  MURAT'S    UNEASINESS.  413 

house  in  the  allee  des  Veuves ;  and  after  he  became  Em- 
peror, such  meetings  still  took  place  outside  the  chateau ; 
and  to  these  rendezvous  he  went  incognito  at  night,  ex- 
posing himself  to  all  the  chances  that  a  man  runs  in  such 
adventures. 

One  evening,  between  eleven  o'clock  and  midnight,  the 
Emperor  called  me,  asked  for  a  black  frock  coat  and  round 
hat,  and  ordered  me  to  follow  him ;  and  with  Prince  Murat 
as  the  third  party,  we  entered  a  close  carriage  with  Ca3sar 
as  driver,  and  only  a  single  footman,  both  without  livery. 

After  a  short  ride,  the  Emperor  stopped  in  the  rue  de , 

alighted,  went  a  few  steps  farther,  and  entered  a  house 
alone,  while  the  prince  and  I  remained  in  the  carriage. 
Some  hours  passed,  and  we  began  to  be  uneasy ;  for  the  life 
of  the  Emperor  had  been  so  often  menaced,  that  it  was  very 
natural  to  fear  some  snare  or  surprise,  and  imagination  takes 
the  reins  when  beset  by  such  fears.  Prince  Murat  swore 
and  cursed  with  all  his  might,  sometimes  the  imprudence 
of  his  Majesty,  then  his  gallantry,  then  the  lady  and  her 
complaisance.  I  was  not  any  better  satisfied  than  he,  but 
being  calmer  I  tried  to  quiet  him;  and  at  last,  unable 
longer  to  restrain  his  impatience,  the  prince  sprang  out  of 
the  carriage,  and  I  followed ;  but,  just  as  his  hand  was 
on  the  knocker  of  the  door,  the  Emperor  came  out.  It  was 
then  already  broad  daylight,  and  the  Prince  informed  him 
of  our  anxiety,  and  the  reflections  we  had  made  upon  his 
rashness.  "What  childishness!"  said  his  Majesty;  "what 
is  there  to  fear?  Wherever  I  am,  am  I  not  in  my  own 
house  ?  " 

It  was  as  volunteers  that  any  courtiers  mentioned  to 
the  Emperor  any  young  and  pretty  persons  who  wished  to 


414  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

make  his  acquaintance,  for  it  was  in  no  wise  in  keeping 
with  his  character  to  give  such  commissions.  I  was  not 
enough  of  a  courtier  to  think  such  an  employment  honor- 
able, and  never  voluntarily  took  part  in  any  business  of  the 
kind. 

It  was  not,  however,  for  want  of  having  been  indirectly 
sounded,  or  even  openly  solicited,  by  certain  ladies  who 
were  ambitious  of  the  title  of  favorites,  although  this  title 
would  have  given  very  few  rights  and  privileges  with  the 
Emperor ;  but  I  would  never  enter  into  such  bargains, 
restricting  myself  to  the  duties  which  my  position  imposed 
on  me,  and  not  going  beyond  them;  and,  although  his 
Majesty  took  pleasure  in  reviving  the  usages  of  the  old 
monarchy,  the  secret  duties  of  the  first  valet  de  chambre 
were  not  re-established,  and  I  took  care  not  to  claim  them. 

Many  others  (not  valets  de  chambre}  were  less  scrupu- 
lous than  I.  General  L spoke  to  the  Emperor  one  day 

of  a  very  pretty  girl  whose  mother  kept  a  gambling-house, 
and  who  desired  to  be  presented  to  him ;  but  the  Emperor 
received  her  once  only,  and  a  few  days  afterwards  she  was 
married.  Some  time  later  his  Majesty  wished  to  see  her 
again,  and  asked  for  her ;  but  the  young  woman  replied  that 
she  did  not  belong  to  herself  any  longer,  and  refused  all  the 
invitations  and  offers  made  to  her.  The  Emperor  seemed 
in  no  wise  dissatisfied,  but  on  the  contrary  praised  Madame 
D —  -  for  her  fidelity  to  duty,  and  approved  her  conduct 
highly. 

In  1804  her  imperial  highness  Princess  Murat  had  in 

her  household  a  young  reader  named  Mademoiselle  E , 

seventeen  or  eighteen  years  of  age,  tall,  slender,  well  made, 
a  brunette,  with  beautiful  black  eyes,  sprightly,  and  very 


MADEMOISELLE  E .  415 

coquettish.  Some  persons  who  thought  it  to  their  interest 
to  create  differences  between  his  Majesty  and  the  Empress, 
liis  wife,  noticed  with  pleasure  the  inclination  of  this  young 
reader  to  try  the  power  of  her  glances  upon  the  Emperor, 
and  his  disposition  to  encourage  her ;  so  they  stirred  up  the 
fire  adroitly,  and  one  of  them  took  upon  himself  all  the 
diplomacy  of  this  affair.  Propositions  made  through  a 
third  party  were  at  once  accepted ;  and  the  beautiful  E — 
came  to  the  chateau  secretly,  but  rarely,  and  remained  there 
only  two  or  three  hours.  When  she  became  enciente,  the 
Emperor  had  a  house  rented  for  her  in  the  Rue  Chantereine, 
where  she  bore  a  fine  boy,  upon  whom  was  settled  at  his 
birth  an  income  of  thirty  thousand  francs.  He  was  con- 
fided at  first  to  the  care  of  Madame  L ,  nurse  of  Prince 

Achille  Murat,  who  kept  him  three  or  four  years,  and  then 
Monsieur  de  Meneval,  his  Majesty's  secretary,  was  ordered 
to  provide  for  the  education  of  this  child ;  and  when  the 
Emperor  returned  from  the  Island  of  Elba,  the  son  of  Made- 
moiselle E —  -  was  placed  in  the  care  of  her  Majesty,  the 
Empress-mother.  The  liaison  of  the  Emperor  with  Made- 
moiselle E did  not  last  long.  She  came  one  day  with 

her  mother  to  Fontainebleau,  where  the  court  then  happened 
to  be,  went  up  to  his  Majesty's  apartment,  and  asked  me 
to  announce  her;  and  the  Emperor,  being  exceedingly  dis- 
pleased by  this  step,  directed  me  to  sajr  to  Mademoiselle 
E —  -  that  he  forbade  her  to  present  herself  before  him 
again  without  his  permission,  and  not  to  remain  a  moment 
longer  at  Fontainebleau.  In  spite  of  this  harshness  to  the 
mother,  the  Emperor  loved  the  son  tenderly ;  and  I  brought 
him  to  him  often,  on  which  occasions  he  caressed  the  child, 
gave  him  a  great  many  dainties,  and  was  much  amused  by 


416  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  vivacity  and  repartees,  which  showed  remarkable  intelli- 
gence for  his  age. 

This  child  and  that  of  the  Polish  beauty,1  of  whom  I 
will  speak  later,  and  the  King  of  Rome,  were  the  only 
children  of  the  Emperor.  He  never  had  a  daughter,  and  I 
believe  he  desired  none. 

I  have  seen  it  stated,  I  know  not  where,  that  the  Em- 
peror, during  the  long  stay  we  made  at  Boulogne,  indem- 
nified himself  at  night  for  the  labors  of  the  day  with  a 
beautiful  Italian,  and  I  will  now  relate  what  I  know  of  this 
adventure.  His  Majesty  complained  one  morning,  while  I 
was  dressing  him,  in  the  presence  of  Prince  Murat,  that  he 
saw  none  but  moustached  faces,  which  he  said  was  very 
tiresome ;  and  the  prince,  ever  ready  on  occasions  of  this 
kind  to  offer  his  services  to  his  brother-in-law,  spoke  to  him 
of  a  handsome  and  attractive  Genoese  lady,  who  had  the 
greatest  desire  to  see  his  Majesty.  The  Emperor  laughingly 
granted  a  tete-d-tete,  the  prince  himself  offering  to  send  the 
message;  and  two  days  later,  by  his  kind  assistance,  the 
lady  arrived,  and  was  installed  in  the  upper  town.  The 
Emperor,  who  lodged  at  Pont  des  Briques,  ordered  me  one 
evening  to  take  a  carriage,  and  find  this  protegee  of  Prince 
Murat.  I  obeyed,  and  brought  the  beautiful  Genoese,  ulm, 
to  avoid  scandal,  although  it  was  a  dark  night,  was  intro- 
duced through  a  little  garden  behind  his  Majesty's  apart- 
ments. The  poor  woman  was  much  excited,  and  shed 
tears,  but  controlled  herself  quickly  on  finding  that  she 
was  kindly  received,  and  the  interview  was  prolonged  until 

1  This  son  of  Countess  "Walewska  became  Count  Walowski,  a  leading 
statesman  of  the  Second  Empire,  ambassador  to  London,  1852,  minister  of 
foreign  affairs,  1855,  minister  of  state,  1860,  president  of  Corps  Le'gislatif,  18G5. 
Bom  1810,  died  1868.  —  TRANS. 


LIAISONS  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  417 

three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  I  was  called  to  carry 
her  back.  She  returned  afterwards  four  or  five  times,  and 
was  with  the  Emperor  afterwards  at  Rambouillet.  She  was 
gentle,  simple,  credulous,  and  not  at  all  intriguing,  and  did 
not  try  to  draw  any  benefit  from  a  liaison  which  at  best  was 
only  temporary. 

Another  of  these  favorites  of  the  moment,  who  threw 
themselves  so  to  speak  into  the  arms  of  the  Emperor  with- 
out giving  him  time  to  make  his  court  to  them,  was  Made- 
moiselle L.  B ,  a  very  pretty  girl.  She  was  intelligent, 

and  possessed  a  kind  heart,  and,  had  she  received  a  less 
frivolous  education,  would  doubtless  have  been  an  estimable 
woman ;  but  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  her  mother  had 
from  the  first  the  design  of  acquiring  a  protector  for  her 
second  husband,  by  utilizing  the  youth  and  attractions  of 
the  daughter  of  her  first.  I  do  not  now  recall  her  name, 
but  she  was  of  a  noble  family,  of  which  fact  the  mother  and 
daughter  were  very  proud,  and  the  young  girl  was  a  good 
musician,  and  sang  agreeably;  but,  which  appeared  to  me 
as  ridiculous  as  indecent,  she  danced  the  ballet  before  a 
large  company  in  her  mother's  house,  in  a  costume  almost 
as  light  as  those  of  the  opera,  with  castanets  or  tambou- 
rines, and  ended  her  dance  with  a  multiplicity  of  attitudes 
and  graces.  With  such  an  education  she  naturally  thought 
her  position  not  at  all  unusual,  and  was  very  much  chagrined 
at  the  short  duration  of  her  liaison  with  the  Emperor ;  while 
the  mother  was  in  despair,  and  said  to  me  with  disgusting 
simplicity,  "  See  my  poor  Lise,  how  she  has  ruined  her  com- 
plexion in  her  vexation  at  seeing  herself  neglected,  poor 
child.  How  good  you  will  be,  if  you  can  manage  to  have 
her  sent  for."  To  secure  an  interview  for  which  the  mother 


418  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

and  daughter  were  both  so  desirous,  they  came  together 
to  the  chapel  at  Saint-Cloud,  and  during  mass  the  poor 
Lise  threw  glances  at  the  Emperor  which  made  the  young 
ladies  blush  who  witnessed  them,  and  were,  nevertheless, 
all  in  vain,  for  the  Emperor  remained  unmoved. 

Colonel  L.  B was  aide-de-camp  to  General  L , 

the  governor  of  Saint-Cloud;  and  the  general  was  a  wid- 
ower, which  facts  alone  furnish  an  excuse  for  the  intimacy 

of  his  only  daughter  with  the  family  of  L.  B ,  which 

astonished  me  greatly.  One  day,  when  I  was  dining  at 
the  house  of  the  colonel,  with  his  wife,  his  step-daughter, 
and  Mademoiselle  L ,  the  general  sent  for  his  aides- 
de-camp,  and  I  was  left  alone,  with  the  ladies ;  who  so 
earnestly  begged  me  to  accompany  them  on  a  visit  to 
Mademoiselle  le  Normand,  that  it  would  have  been  impo- 
lite to  refuse,  consequently  we  ordered  a  carriage  and  went 
to  the  Rue  de  Tournon.  Mademoiselle  L.  B —  -  was  first 
to  enter  the  sybil's  cave,  where  she  remained  a  long  while, 
but  on  her  return  was  very  reserved  as  to  any  commu- 
nications made  to  her,  though  Mademoiselle  L —  -  told 
us  very  frankly  that  she  had  good  news,  and  would  soon 
marry  the  man  she  loved,  which  event  soon  occurred. 
These  ladies  having  urged  me  to  consult  the  prophetess 
in  my  turn,  I  perceived  plainly  that  I  was  recognized ;  for 
Mademoiselle  le  Normand  at  once  discovered  in  my  hand 
that  I  had  the  happiness  of  being  near  a  great  man  and 
being  highly  esteemed  by  him,  adding  much  other  non- 
sense of  the  same  kind,  which  was  so  tiresome  that  I 
thanked  her,  and  made  my  adieux  as  quickly  as  possible. 


THRONES   OF  TUE  IMPERIAL  FAMILY.  419 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

The  thrones  of  the  imperial  family.  —  Rupture  of  the  treaty  with  Russia.  — 
The  Queen  of  Prussia  and  the  Duke  of  Brunswick.  —  Departure  from 
Paris.  —  One  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men  dispersed  in  a  few  days.  — 
Death  of  Prince  Louis  of  Prussia.  —  Guinde  quartermaster  of  the  Tenth 
Hussars.  —  Constant's  carriage  upset  on  the  road.  —  Readiness  of  the  sol- 
diers to  assist  him. — The  hat  and  chief  valet  of  the  Little  Corporal. — 
Arrival  of  the  Emperor  upon  the  plateau  of  Weiinar.  —  Road  cut  in  the 
living  rock.  —  The  Emperor  in  danger  of  death.  —  The  Emperor  extended 
on  the  ground.  —  Compliment  of  the  Emperor  to  the  soldier  who  failed 
to  kill  him.  —  Fruits  of  the  Battle  of  Jena.  —  Death  of  General  Schmet- 
tau  and  of  the  Duke  of  Brunswick.  —  Flight  of  the  King  and  Queen  of 
Prussia.  —  The  Amazon  Queen  passing  her  army  in  review.  —  The  Queen's 
costume.  —  The  Queen  pursued  by  French  hussars.  —  Enthusiasm  and 
speeches  of  the  soldiers.  —  Klein's  dragoons. — The  soldiers  who  had  pur- 
sued the  Queen  of  Prussia  reprimanded  and  rewarded  by  the  Emperor.  — 
Clemency  to  the  Duke  of  Weimar.  —  Constant's  bed  under  the  Emper- 
or's tent.  —  Constant  shares  his  bed  with  the  King  of  Naples.  —  A  night 
passed  by  the  Emperor  and  Constant  on  the  campaign.  —  Broken  slum- 
bers. —  The  aides-de-camp.  —  The  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  —  Breakfast.  — 
Horseback-ride.  —  Roustan  and  the  brandy-flask.  —  Abstinence  of  the 
Emperor  in  the  army.  —A  little  crust  and  a  glass  of  wine.  —  Intrepidity 
of  the  cook.  —  Visit  to  the  field  of  battle.  —The  Emperor  overcome  with 
fatigue.  —  Agreeable  awaking  of  the  Emperor.  —  His  facility  in  falling 
asleep  again.  —  Special  work  of  the  Emperor  on  the  eve  of  the  battle.  — 
The  maps  and  pins.  —  Activity  of  the  attendants  on  the  campaign,  and 
while  traveling.  —Promptness  of  the  preparations.  —  A  hospital  changed 
into  a  lodging  for  the  Emperor.  —  Corpses,  amputated  limbs,  etc.,  taken 
away  in  a  few  moments.  —  The  Emperor  sleeping  on  the  field  of  battle.  — 
En  route  for  Potsdam.  —  Storm. — Meeting  with  an  Egyptian  woman, 
widow  of  a  French  officer.  —  Gift  of  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor  at 
Potsdam.  —  The  relics  of  Frederick  the  Great.  —  Charlottenberg.  —  Toilet 
of  the  army  before  entering  Berlin.  —  Entry  of  Berlin.  —  The  Em- 
peror causing  military  honors  to  be  rendered  to  the  bust  of  Frederick 
the  Great.  —  The  growlers.  —  The  Emperor's  respect  for  the  sister  of  the 
King  of  Prussia.  —  Grand  review.  —  Petition  presented  by  two  women.  — 


420  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  Emperor's  curiosity.  —  Mission  entrusted  to  Constant.  —  A  sup- 
pliant of  sixteen.  —  Etiquette.  —  Mute  interview.  —  The  Emperor  not 
much  pleased  with  his  tete-a-tete.  —  Carried  off.  —  Singular  meeting.  — 
Adventures  of  a  young  Prussian  girl.  —  Credulity  followed  by  distress.  — 
Constant  recommends  the  beautiful  Prussian  to  the  Emperor.  —  Return 
of  a  caprice.  —  Objections  of  Constant.  —  The  Emperor's  generosity. 

WHILE  the  Emperor  was  giving  crowns  to  his  brothers 
and  sisters,  —  to  Prince  Louis,  the  throne  of  Holland ;  Na- 
ples to  Prince  Joseph  ;  the  Duchy  of  Berg  to  Prince  Murat ; 
to  the  Princess  Eliza,  Lucca  and  Massa-Carrara ;  and  Guas- 
talla  to  the  Princess  Pauline  Borghese ;  and  while,  by  means 
of  treaties  and  family  alliances,  he  was  assuring  still  more 
the  co-operation  of  the  different  states  which  had  entered 
into  the  Confederation  of  the  Rhine,  —  war  was  renewed 
between  France  and  Prussia.  It  is  not  my  province  to  in- 
vestigate the  causes  of  this  war,  nor  to  decide  which  first 
gave  cause  of  offense. 

All  I  can  certify  is  this,  frequently  at  the  Tuileries, 
and  on  the  campaign,  I  heard  the  Emperor,  in  conversa- 
sation  with  his  intimate  friends,  accuse  the  old  Duke  of 
Brunswick,  whose  name  had  been  so  odious  in  France  since. 
1792,  and  also  the  young  and  beautiful  Queen  of  Prussia, 
of  having  influenced  King  Frederic  William  to  break  the 
treaty  of  peace.  The  Queen  was,  according  to  the  Em- 
peror, more  disposed  to  war  than  General  Blucher  himself. 
She  wore  the  uniform  of  the  regiment  to  which  she  had 
given  her  name,  appeared  at  all  reviews,  and  commanded 
the  maneuvers. 

We  left  Paris  at  the  end  of  September.  I  will  not 
enter  into  the  details  of  this  wonderful  campaign,  in  which 
the  Emperor  in  an  incredibly  short  time  crushed  to  pieces 
an  army  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men,  perfectly 


PRINCE  LOUIS   OF  PRUSSIA  421 

disciplined,  full  of  enthusiasm  and  courage,  and  fighting  in 
defense  of  their  country.  In  one  of  the  first  battles,  the 
young  Prince  Louis  of  Prussia,  brother  of  the  king,  was 
killed  at  the  head  of  his  troops  by  Guinde,  quartermaster 
of  the  Tenth  Hussars.  The  prince  fought  hand  to  hand 
with  this  brave  sub-officer,  who  said  to  him,  "Surrender, 
Colonel,  or  you  are  a  dead  man,"  to  which  Prince  Louis 
replied  only  by  a  saber  stroke,  whereupon  Guinde  plunged 
his  own  into  the  body  of  his  opponent,  and  he  fell  dead  on 
the  spot. 

On  this  campaign,  as  the  roads  had  become  very  rough 
from  the  continual  passage  of  artillery,  my  carriage  was 
one  day  upset,  and  one  of  the  Emperor's  hats  fell  out  of 
the  door ;  but  a  regiment  which  happened  to  pass  along  the 
same  road  having  recognized  the  hat  from  its  peculiar 
shape,  my  carriage  was  immediately  set  up  again,  "  For," 
said  these  brave  soldiers,  "we  cannot  leave  the  first  valet 
of  the  little  corporal  in  trouble ; "  and  the  hat,  after  pass- 
ing through  many  hands,  was  at  last  restored  to  me  before 
my  departure. 

On  the  Emperor's  arrival  at  the  plateau  of  Weimar,  he 
arranged  his  army  in  line  of  battle,  and  bivouacked  in  the 
midst  of  his  guard.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  he 
arose  and  went  on  foot  to  examine  the  work  on  a  road, 
that  was  being  cut  in  the  rock  for  the  transportation  of 
artillery,  and  after  remaining  nearly  an  hour  with  the 
workmen,  decided  to  take  a  look  at  the  nearest  advance 
posts  before  returning  to  his  bivouac. 

This  round,  which  the  Emperor  insisted  on  making 
alone  and  with  no  escort,  came  near  costing  him  his  life. 
The  night  was  so  dark  that  the  sentinels  of  the  camp  could 


422  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

not  see  ten  steps  in  front  of  them;  and  the  first,  hearing 
some  one  in  the  darkness  approaching  our  line,  called 
out  "  Qui  vive  ? "  and  prepared  to  fire.  The  Emperor 
being  lost  in  thought,  as  he  himself  told  me  afterwards, 
did  not  notice  the  sentinel's  challenge,  and  made  no  reply 
until  a  ball,  whistling  by  his  ears,  woke  him  from  his  rev- 
erie, when  immediately  perceiving  his  danger,  he  threw 
himself  face  downwards  on  the  ground,  which  was  a  very 
wise  precaution ;  for  hardly  had  his  Majesty  placed  himself 
in  this  position,  than  other  balls  passed  over  his  head,  the 
discharge  of  the  first  sentinel  having  been  repeated  by  the 
whole  line.  This  first  fire  over,  the  Emperor  rose,  walked 
towards  the  nearest  post,  and  made  himself  known. 

His  Majesty  was  still  there  when  the  soldier  who  had 
fired  on  him  joined  them,  being  just  relieved  at  his  post;  he 
was  a  young  grenadier  of  the  line.  The  Emperor  ordered 
him  to  approach,  and,  pinching  his  cheeks  hard,  exclaimed, 
"What,  you  scamp,  you  took  me  for  a  Prussian!  This 
rascal  does  not  throw  away  his  powder  on  sparrows ;  he 
shoots  only  at  emperors."  The  poor  soldier  was  com- 
pletely overcome  with  the  idea  that  he  might  have  killed 
the  little  corporal,  whom  he  adored  as  much  as  did  the  rest 
of  the  army ;  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  he  could  say, 
"  Pardon,  Sire,  but  I  was  obeying  orders ;  and  if  you  did  not 
answer,  it  was  not  my  fault.  I  was  compelled  to  have  the 
countersign,  and  you  would  not  give  it."  The  Emperor 
reassured  him  with  a  smile,  and  said,  as  he  left  the  post, 
"  My  brave  boy,  I  do  not  reproach  you.  That  was  pretty 
well  aimed  for  a  shot  fired  in  the  dark ;  but  after  awhile  it 
will  be  daylight;  take  better  aim,  and  I  will  remember 
you." 


BATTLE  OF  JENA,  423 

The  results  of  the  Battle  of  Je"na,  fought  on  the  14th  of 
October  (1806),  are  well  known.  Almost  all  the  Prussian 
generals,  at  least  the  bravest  among  them,  were  there  taken 
prisoners,  or  rendered  unable  to  continue  the  campaign.1 

The  king  and  queen  took  flight,  and  did  not  halt  till 
they  had  reached  Koenigsberg. 

A  few  moments  before  the  attack,  the  Queen  of  Prussia, 
mounted  on  a  noble,  graceful  steed,  had  appeared  in  the 
midst  of  the  soldiers ;  and,  followed  by  the  Mite  of  the  youth 
of  Berlin,  this  royal  Amazon  had  galloped  down  the  front 
rank  of  the  line  of  battle.  The  numerous  banners  which 
her  own  hands  had  embroidered  to  encourage  her  troops, 
with  those  of  the  great  Frederick,  blackened  by  the  smoke 
of  many  battles,  were  lowered  at  her  approach,  amid  shouts 
of  enthusiasm  which  rang  through  the  entire  ranks  of  the 
Prussian  army.  The  atmosphere  was  so  clear,  and  the  two 

1  Besides  Prince  Louis,  the  Prussians  lost  in  a  few  days  two  of  their  best 
general  officers.  General  Schmettau  died  at  Weimar  of  his  wounds,  and  at 
his  burial  the  Emperor  was  present;  and  the  old  Duke  of  Brunswick,  already 
more  than  seventy  and  very  infirm,  met  at  Auerstadt  a  glorious  death. 

"The  Duke  of  Brunswick,  grievously  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Auer- 
stadt, arrived  Oct.  29  at  Altona.  His  entrance  to  this  city  was  a  new  and 
striking  example  of  the  vicissitudes  of  fortune.  Behold  a  sovereign  prince, 
enjoying  (whether  rightfully  or  not)  a  great  military  reputation,  but  lately 
powerful  and  tranquil  in  his  capital,  now  overcome  and  wounded  to  the 
death,  making  his  entrance  into  Altona  on  a  miserable  litter  borne  by  ten 
men,  without  officers,  without  servants,  escorted  by  a  crowd  of  children  and 
vagabonds,  who  crowded  around  him  from  curiosity,  placed  in  a  poor  inn,  and 
so  exhausted  by  fatigue  and  the  pain  of  his  eyes,  that  the  next  day  there 
was  a  general  rumor  of  his  death.  The  unfortunate  duke  immediately  had 
Doctor  Unzer  sent  for,  to  ease  the  terrible  suffering  caused  by  his  wounds. 
During  the  few  days  that  the  Duke  of  Brunswick  survived,  he  saw  only  his 
wife,  who  reached  him  the  1st  of  November.  He  constantly  refused  all  visits, 
and  died  Nov.  10."  —  Memoirs  of  M.  DE  BOURRIENNE,  vol.  vii. 

By  the  defeat  of  Jena  and  Auerstadt  the  Prussian  monarchy  was  hope- 
lessly shattered,  till  restored  by  the  downfall  of  the  Emperor  in  1814.  — TRANS. 


424  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

armies  so  near  each  other,  that  the  French  could  easily 
distinguish  the  costume  of  the  queen. 

This  striking  costume  was,  in  fact,  one  great  cause  of 
the  danger  she  encountered  in  her  flight.  Her  head  was 
covered  with  a  helmet  of  polished  steel,  above  which 
waved  a  magnificent  plume,  her  cuirass  glittered  with 
gold  and  silver,  while  a  tunic  of  silver  cloth  completed  her 
costume  and  fell  to  her  feet,  which  were  shod  in  red  boots 
with  gold  spurs.  This  dress  heightened  the  charms  of  the 
beautiful  queen. 

When  the  Prussian  army  was  put  to  flight,  the  queen 
was  left  alone  with  three  or  four  young  men  of  Berlin, 
who  defended  her  until  two  hussars,  who  had  covered  them- 
selves with  glory  during  the  battle,  rushed  at  a  gallop  with 
drawn  sabers  on  this  little  group,  and  they  were  instantly 
dispersed.  Frightened  by  this  sudden  onset,  the  horse 
which  her  Majesty  rode  fled  with  all  the  strength  of  his 
limbs ;  and  well  was  it  for  the  fugitive  queen  that  he  was 
swift  as  a  stag,  else  the  two  hussars  would  infallibly  have 
made  her  a  prisoner,  for  more  than  once  they  pressed  so 
close  that  she  heard  their  rude  speeches  and  coarse  jests, 
which  were  of  such  a  nature  as  to  shock  her  ears. 

The  queen,  thus  pursued,  had  arrived  in  sight  of  the 
gate  of  Weimar,  when  a  strong  detachment  of  Klein's 
dragoons  were  perceived  coming  at  full  speed,  the  chief 
having  orders  to  capture  the  queen  at  any  cost ;  but,  the 
instant  she  entered  the  city,  the  gates  swung  to  behind  her, 
and  the  hussars  and  the  detachment  of  dragoons  returned 
disappointed  to  the  battle-field. 

The  particulars  of  this  singular  pursuit  soon  reached 
the  Emperor's  ears,  and  he  summoned  the  hussars  to  his 


CONSTANT'S  BED.  425 

presence,  and  having  in  strong  terms  testified  his  disap- 
proval of  the  improper  jests  that  they  had  dared  to  make 
regarding  the  queen,  at  a  time  when  her  misfortunes 
should  have  increased  the  respect  due  both  to  her  rank 
and  her  sex,  the  Emperor  then  performed  the  duty  of 
rewarding  these  two  hrave  fellows  for  the  manner  in  which 
they  had  borne  themselves  on  the  field  of  battle.  Know- 
ing that  they  had  done  prodigies  of  valor,  his  Majesty 
gave  them  the  cross,  and  ordered  three  hundred  francs  to 
be  given  each  one  as  gratuity. 

The  Emperor  exercised  his  clemency  toward  the  Duke 
of  Weimar,  who  had  commanded  a  Prussian  division.  The 
day  after  the  battle  of  Jena,  his  Majesty,  having  reached 
Weimar,  lodged  at  the  ducal  palace,  where  he  was  received 
by  the  duchess  regent,  to  whom  he  said,  "  Madame,  I  owe 
you  something  for  having  awaited  me ;  and  in  apprecia- 
tion of  the  confidence  you  have  manifested  in  me,  I  pardon 
your  husband." 

While  we  were  in  the  army  I  slept  in  the  Emperor's 
tent,  either  on  a  little  rug,  or  on  the  bearskin  which  he 
used  in  his  carriage ;  or  when  it  happened  that  I  could  not 
make  use  of  these  articles,  I  tried  to  procure  a  bed  of  straw, 
and  remember  one  evening  having  rendered  a  great  service 
to  the  King  of  Naples,  by  sharing  with  him  the  bundle  of 
straw  which  was  to  have  served  as  my  bed. 

I  here  give  a  few  details  from  which  the  reader  can 
form  an  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  I  passed  the  nights  on 
the  campaign. 

The  Emperor  slept  on  his  little  iron  bedstead,  and  I 
slept  where  I  could.  Hardly  did  I  fall  asleep  before  the 
Emperor  called  me,  "  Constant."  —  "  Sire."  —  "  See  who  is 


426  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

on  duty"  (it  was  the  aides-de-camp  to  whom  he  referred). 

"  Sire,  it  is  M ."  —  "  Tell  him  to  come  to  me."  I 

then  went  out  of  the  tent  to  summon  the  officer,  and 
brought  him  back  with  me.  On  his  entrance  the  Emperor 
said  to  him,  "  Report  to  such  a  corps,  commanded  by  such 
a  marshal ;  you  will  request  him  to  send  such  a  regiment 
to  such  a  position  ;  you  will  ascertain  the  position  of  the 
enemy,  then  you  will  return  to  report."  The  aide-de-camp, 
having  left  on  horseback  to  execute  these  orders,  I  lay 
down  again,  and  the  Emperor  now  seemed  to  be  going  to 
sleep;  but,  at  the  end  of  a  few  moments,  I  heard  him  call 
again,  "Constant."  —  " Sire." -  — " Have  the  Prince  de  Neu- 
chatel  summoned."  I  sent  for  the  prince,  who  came  at 
once ;  and  during  the  conversation  I  must  remain  at  the 
door  of  the  tent,  until  the  prince  wrote  several  orders  and 
withdrew.  These  interruptions  took  place  many  times 
during  the  night,  and  at  last  towards  morning  his  Majesty 
slept,  when  I  also  had  a  few  moments  of  repose. 

When  aides-de-camp  arrived,  bringing  any  news  to  the 
Emperor,  I  awoke  him,  by  shaking  him  gently. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  said  his  Majesty,  waking  with  a  start ; 
"  what  o'clock  is  it  ?  Let  him  enter."  The  aide-de-camp 
made  his  report ;  and  if  it  was  necessary,  his  Majesty  rose 
immediately,  and  left  the  tent,  his  toilet  never  occupying 
much  time.  If  a  battle  was  in  contemplation  the  Emperor 
scanned  the  sky  and  the  horizon  carefully,  and  often  re- 
'marked,  "  We  are  going  to  have  a  beautiful  day." 

Breakfast  was  prepared  and  served  in  five  minutes,  and 
at  the  end  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  cloth  was  removed. 
The  Prince  de  Neuchatel  breakfasted  and  dined  every  day 
with  his  Majesty ;  and,  in  eight  or  ten  minutes,  the  Ion- 


CAMPAIGN  LIFE.  427 

gest  meal  was  over.  "  To  horse,"  then  exclaimed  the 
Emperor,  and  set  out,  accompanied  by  the  Prince  de  Neu- 
chatel,  and  an  aide-de-camp  or  two,  with  Roustan,  who 
always  carried  a  silver  flask  of  brandy,  which,  however,  the 
Emperor  rarely  ever  used.  His  Majesty  passed  from  one 
corps  to  the  other,  spoke  to  the  officers  and  soldiers,  ques- 
tioned them,  and  saw  with  his  own  eyes  all  that  it  was 
possible  to  see. 

If  a  battle  was  on  hand,  dinner  was  forgotten,  and  the 
Emperor  ate  only  after  his  return ;  but,  if  the  engagement 
lasted  too  long,  there  was  carried  to  him,  without  his  order- 
ing it,  a  crust  of  bread  and  a  little  wine. 

M.  Colin,  chief  of  the  culinary  department,  many  times 
braved  the  cannon  to  carry  a  light  repast  to  the  Emperor. 

At  the  close  of  the  combat,  his  Majesty  never  failed  to 
visit  the  battle-field,  where  he  had  aid  given  the  wounded, 
and  encouraged  them  with  cheering  words. 

The  Emperor  sometimes  returned  overcome  by  fatigue ; 
he  then  took  a  light  repast,  and  lay  down  again  to  begin 
his  interrupted  sleep. 

It  was  remarkable,  that,  each  time  that  unexpected  cir- 
cumstances forced  the  aides-de-camp  to  have  the  Emperor 
waked,  he  was  as  ready  for  work  as  he  would  have  been 
at  the  beginning  or  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  his 
awaking  was  as  amiable  as  his  manner  was  pleasant.  The 
report  of  an  aide-de-camp  being  finished,  Napoleon  went  to 
sleep  again  as  easily  as  if  his  sleep  had  not  been  inter- 
rupted. 

During  the  three  or  four  hours  preceding  an  engage- 
ment, the  Emperor  spent  most  of  the  time  with  large  maps 
spread  out  before  him,  the  places  on  which  he  marked  with 
pins  with  heads  of  different  colored  wax. 


428  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

I  have  already  said  that  all  the  persons  of  the  Emper- 
or's household  emulated  each  other  in  seeking  the  surest 
and  promptest  means  of  carrying  out  his  wishes ;  and  every- 
where, whether  in  traveling  or  on  the  campaign,  his  table, 
his  coffee,  his  bed,  or  even  his  bath  could  be  prepared  hi 
five  minutes.  How  many  times  were  we  obliged  to  remove, 
in  still  less  time,  corpses  of  men  and  horses,  to  set  up  his 
Majesty's  tent. 

In  one  of  the  campaigns  beyond  the  Rhine  we  were 
delayed  in  a  poor  village,  and,  in  order  to  prepare  the 
Emperor's  lodging,  were  obliged  to  use  a  peasant's  hut, 
which  had  served  as  a  field  hospital ;  and  we  began  prepa- 
rations by  carrying  away  the  dismembered  limbs,  and  wash- 
ing up  the  stains  of  blood,  this  labor  being  finished,  and 
everything  almost  in  order,  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 

The  Emperor  sometimes  slept  a  quarter  or  half  an  hour 
on  the  field  of  battle  when  he  was  fatigued,  or  wished  to 
await  more  patiently  the  result  of  the  orders  he  had  given. 

While  on  the  road  to  Potsdam,  we  were  overtaken  by 
a  violent  storm,  which  became  so  severe,  and  the  rain  so 
heavy,  that  we  were  obliged  to  stop  and  take  refuge  in 
a  neighboring  house  on  the  road.  Well  wrapped  in  his 
gray  overcoat,  and  not  thinking  that  he  could  be  recognized, 
the  Emperor  was  much  surprised  to  see,  as  he  entered  the 
house,  a  young  woman  who  seemed  to  tremble  at  his  pres- 
ence. He  ascertained  that  she  was  an  Egyptian,  who.  had 
retained  for  my  master  the  religious  veneration  which  all 
the  Arabs  bore  him,  and  was  the  widow  of  an  officer  of 
the  army  of  Egypt,  whom  chance  had  led  to  the  same 
house  in  Saxony  where  he  had  been  welcomed.  The  Em- 
peror granted  her  a  pension  of  twelve  hundred  francs,  and 


NAPOLEON  AT  POTSDAM.  429 

took  upon  liimself  the  education  of  her  son,  the  only  legacy 
left  her  by  her  husband.  "This  is  the  first  time,"  said 
Napoleon,  "  that  I  have  alighted  to  avoid  a  storm ;  I  had 
a  presentiment  that  an  opportunity  of  doing  good  awaited 
me  here." 

The  loss  of  the  battle  of  Jena  had  struck  the  Prussians 
with  such  terror,  and  the  court  had  fled  with  such  precipi- 
tation, that  everything  had  been  left  in  the  royal  residences ; 
and,  consequently,  on  his  arival  at  Potsdam,  the  Emperor 
found  there  the  sword  of  the  great  Frederick,  his  gorget,  the 
grand  cordon  of  his  order,  and  his  alarm-clock,  and  had 
them  carried  to  Paris,  to  be  preserved  at  the  Hotel  des  In- 
valides.  "I  prefer  these  trophies,"  said  his  Majesty,  "to 
all  the  treasures  of  the  King  of  Prussia ;  I  will  send  them  to 
my  old  soldiers  of  the  campaign  of  Hanover,  who  will  guard 
them  as  a  trophy  of  the  victories  of  the  grand  army,  and  of 
the  revenge  that  it  has  taken  for  the  disaster  of  Rosbach." 
The  Emperor  the  same  day  ordered  the  removal  to  his  cap- 
ital of  the  column  raised  by  the  great  Frederick  to  per- 
petuate the  remembrance  of  the  defeat  of  the  French 
at  Rosbach.1  He  might  have  contented  himself  with 
changing  the  inscription. 

Napoleon  remained  at  the  chateau  of  Charlottenburg, 
where  he  had  established  his  headquarters,  until  the  regi- 
ments of  the  guard  had  arrived  from  all  points ;  and  as 
soon  as  they  were  assembled,  orders  were  given  to  put 
themselves  in  full  uniform,  which  was  done  in  the  little 
wood  before  the  town.  The  Emperor  made  his  entry  into 
the  capital  of  Prussia  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  in 

1  At  Rosbach,  November,  1757,  the  French,  under  Prince  de  Soubise,  had 
been  shamefully  defeated  by  Frederick  the  Great.  —  TRANS. 


430  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  morning,  surrounded  by  his  aides-de-camp,  and  the  offi- 
cers of  his  staff,  all  the  regiments  filing  before  him  in  the 
most  perfect  order,  drums  and  music  at  their  head ;  and 
the  fine  appearance  of  the  troops  excited  the  admiration 
of  the  Prussians. 

Having  entered  Berlin  in  the  suite  of  the  Emperor,  we 
arrived  at  the  town  square,  in  the  midst  of  which  a  bust  of 
the  great  Frederick  had  been  placed.  The  name  of  this 
monarch  is  so  popular  at  Berlin,  and,  in  fact,  throughout 
all  Prussia,  that  on  many  occasions,  when  any  one  by 
chance  pronounced  it,  either  in  a  caf£  or  in  any  other  pub- 
lic place,  or  even  in  private  assemblies,  I  have  seen  every 
one  present  rise,  and  lift  his  hat  with  an  air  of  the  most 
profound  respect  and  genuine  adoration. 

When  the  Emperor  arrived  in  front  of  the  bust,  he 
described  a  semicircle  at  a  gallop,  followed  by  his  staff, 
and  lowering  the  point  of  his  sword,  while  uncovering  his 
head,  was  the  first  to  salute  the  image  of  Frederick  II. 
His  staff  followed  his  example ;  and  all  the  general  and 
other  officers  who  composed  it  ranged  themselves  in  a 
semicircle  around  the  bust,  with  the  Emperor  in  the  cen- 
ter. His  Majesty  gave  orders  that  each  regiment  should 
present  arms  in  defiling  before  the  bust,  which  maneuver 
was  not  to  the  taste  of  some  grumblers  of  the  first  regi- 
ment of  the  Guard,  who,  with  moustaches  scorched,  and 
faces  still  blackened  with  the  powder  of  Jena,  would  have 
better  liked  an  order  for  lodgings  with  the  bourgeois  than 
all  this  parade,  and  took  no  pains  to  conceal  their  ill- 
humor.  There  was  one,  among  others,  who,  as  he  passed 
in  front  of  the  bust  and  before  the  Emperor,  exclaimed 
between  his  teeth,  without  moving  a  muscle  of  his  face, 


THE  GRUMBLERS.  431 

but  still  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  his  Majesty,  "  Damn 
the  bust."  His  Majesty  pretended  not  to  hear,  but  that 
evening  he  repeated  with  a  laugh  the  words  of  the  old 
soldier. 

His  Majesty  alighted  at  the  chateau,  where  his  lodging 
was  prepared,  and  the  officers  of  his  household  had  pre- 
ceded him.  Having  learned  that  the  electoral  princess  of 
Hesse-Cassel,  sister  of  the  king,  was  still  ill  at  the  end 
of  her  confinement,  the  Emperor  ascended  to  the  apartment 
of  this  princess,  and,  after  quite  a  long  visit,  gave  orders 
that  she  should  be  treated  with  all  the  deference  due  to 
her  rank  and  unfortunate  situation. 


A     000  1 79  785     1 


